New Zealand Commissions 865kW CO₂ Cold Storage Facility Using 2 SCM Frigo Racks

SCM Ref NZ, a division of Beijer Ref, has assisted New Zealand refrigeration contractor Technicool Refrigeration with the commissioning of a 865kW (246TR) CO₂ (R744) refrigeration facility owned by Manawatu Cold Storage that features two racks manufactured by fellow group member SCM Frigo.

The smaller rack supports 135kW (38.4TR) of frozen cold storage capacity at −20°C (−4°F) and 70kW (19.9TR) of capacity at 5°C (41°F) for the environmental loading area, Chris Gibbons, Product Development Manager at SCM Ref NZ, told NaturalRefrigerants.com. The other rack supplies 660kW (187.7TR) of blast freezing capacity at −30°C (−22°F).

“This project showcases the increased interest and movement of R744 into industrial markets that are predominantly ammonia [R717] and to a lesser extent synthetics in NZ,” Gibbons said. “The end user has already entered discussions regarding CO₂ in its next cold store project.”

Additional details: The 80bar (1,160psi) design pressure rating across all the medium– and low-temperature suction groups enables pressure containment during loss-of-power events, eliminating the requirement for resilience units or generators, according to Gibbons.

• When operating at full refrigeration capacity, the system can recover a maximum of 250kW (71.1TR) of heating capacity from the blast freezer rack and 100kW (28.4TR) from the smaller unit for glycol defrosting and underfloor heating.
• “The blast freezer rack — an impressive installation with 14 compressors — operates remarkably quietly at full capacity, especially compared to equivalent synthetic or ammonia systems,” Gibbons said.

Expanding market: With daily summer ambient temperatures in New Zealand averaging between 20 and 28°C (68 and 82°F), interest in CO₂ continues to grow in the region.

• The project brings SCM Ref NZ’s total number of R744 installations in the country to 82 by the end of 2025, Gibbons said. It includes 37 industrial–sized racks and 45 commercial projects.
• CO₂ installations in NZ in the mid-2010s were limited to supermarkets. Today its use spans a wide range of sectors from small stores to industrial applications.

New product: In 2025 SCM Ref NZ built a CO₂ ice builder for use in the country’s expansive dairy industry.

• SCM Ref NZ designed and constructed the evaporator coils using K65 copper piping and linked the unit to its New Zealand-built SMTDX10 transcritical CO₂ refrigeration pack.
• The unit takes advantage of off-peak energy rates by generating and storing up to 500kg (1,100lbs) of ice.

Quotable: “Following the success of our 2022 series run, we are organizing another NZ-wide CO₂ roadshow with stops at nine venues to introduce transcritical CO₂ as a safe natural future-proof refrigerant,” Gibbons said. “ With live plant demonstrations, it’s a chance for engineers and end users to discover the advantages of R744, how it works and what is currently available. With the increasing interest, I am confident it will create more R744 opportunities.”

“The end user has already entered discussions regarding CO₂ in its next cold store project.”

Chris Gibbons, Product Development Manager at SCM Ref NZ