GEA Builds 2.4MW Ammonia Cold Storage Facility for a South African Fruit Producer
GEA has released a case study detailing a 2.4MW (682TR) ammonia (R717) cold storage facility built in South Africa for the fruit producer Betko. The new facility is designed to store apples and pears for up to 14 months and contains 24 storage rooms, with fruit stored between –0.5 and 1.5°C (31 and 34°F). The ammonia refrigeration system features four GEA Grasso V series reciprocating compressors, one of which is for redundancy. Construction of the facility began in March 2024 and was completed in February 2025.
Intellihot Acquired by Zurn Elkay Water Solutions
Intellihot, an American manufacturer of CO2 (R744) and tankless heat pump and gas-fired water heaters, has been acquired by Zurn Elkay Water Solutions. Intellihot, founded in 2009 and based in Vernon Hills, Illinois, offers CO2 heat pump water heaters in its Electron Series. Intellihot says the iE1 Electron Series has a COP of 4.9 and stores heat in a specially designed thermal battery, which is a mix of propylene and glycol.
“We are excited about Intellihot, an earlier-stage technology disruptor in the tankless water heating market for commercial and institutional applications,” said Todd Adams, Chairman and CEO of the Milwaukee-based Zurn Elkay, in a statement.
France Amends Regulations Prohibiting A3 Refrigerants in High-Rises
France has amended its building code to permit the installation of air-conditioning units using A3 refrigerants with a charge of less than 300 grams. The systems must “bear CE markings” and be hermetically sealed. A3 refrigerants is the classification for highly flammable refrigerants, which is used exclusively for hydrocarbons. The 2024 revision to the EU F-gas Regulation bans the use of fluorinated refrigerants in new self-contained and split air conditioners and heat pumps by 2035.
Washington State Establishes Refrigerant Task Force
The Washington State Department of Ecology has established its Refrigerant Task Force, which is tasked with developing a report to advise the state legislature on a potential transition to low-GWP refrigerants by 2035. The 14-member task force will meet monthly from July 2026 to July 2027, and its report will be delivered to lawmakers for analysis in time for the 2028 legislative session.
The establishment of a refrigerant transition task force was included in HB 1462, a set of regulations that promote transitioning to low-GWP or natural refrigerants and furthering the use of reclaimed instead of virgin HFCs. It includes prohibitions on the sale of newly produced refrigerants with a GWP that exceeds 1,500, beginning January 1, 2030, and refrigerants with a GWP that exceeds 750, beginning January 1, 2033.
