Several U.S. and European refrigeration manufacturers and suppliers attending the 2024 Food Industry Association (FMI) Energy and Store Development Conference indicated that they see CO₂ (R744) refrigeration gaining traction in the U.S. retail industry sector.

The event was held September 23‒26 in Baltimore, Maryland.

The marquee sign of the transition towards CO₂ refrigeration in the U.S. came from Don Hall, Outside Sales Representative at Roberts Oxygen, a supplier of R744-grade compressed gas on the Eastern Seaboard, serving nine states from Pennsylvania to Florida.

“We are selling roughly 50% more CO₂ compressed gas than we were a year ago,” Hall told NaturalRefrigerants.com.

The spike in CO₂ gas demand for refrigeration systems follows from the final “Technology Transition” rule released on October 6, 2023, by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The rule sets GWP limits for refrigerant to 150 for many new equipment refrigeration uses, with compliance dates ranging from 2025‒2028.

Another regulatory factor playing into retail equipment decisions in the past year came from the EPA proposals for HFC management, with the final EPA ruling released on September 23, the first day of the FMI conference.

According to FMI retail exchange participants, many of the newly launched or coming products to the U.S. market focus on CO₂ applications. However, a few manufacturers also touted new ammonia (R717) solutions.

In interviews at the conference, NaturalRefrigerants found the following companies developing or bringing new natural refrigerant equipment to the U.S. market.

SCM Frigo: The Italian OEM manufactures transcritical CO₂ systems and plans to enter the American market with fellow Beijer Reef U.S.-based subsidiaries Heritage Distribution and Young Supply. 

• The OEM has already sold its first CO₂ system in the U.S. to a North Carolina pharmaceutical company, Mirko Bernabei, Beijer Ref’s OEM Segment Technical Director, told NaturalRefrigerants.com.

• SCM Frigo carries the ATMO Approved Natural Refrigerants Label, having obtained initial approval in February 2023 and reapproval in May 2024. ATMOsphere is the publisher of NaturalRefrigerants.com.

Mueller Streamline: As a subsidiary of Mueller Industries, the manufacturer produces piping, fittings and valves for HVAC&R applications.

• The manufacturer plans to release 90bar (1,305psi) piping for low-side CO₂ applications early next year, followed by 90bar fittings.
• “For a year, OEMs have asked for 90bar piping, and we are executing that,” Christopher Mueller told NaturalRefrigerants.com.
• In March 2023, the company expanded its XHP Copper-Fittings product line to include 2-⅝in (6.67cm) outside-diameter fittings.

AHT Cooling Systems: As a member of the Daikin group, the Austrian manufacturer produces plug-in refrigerators and freezer cabinets.

• The Daikin ZAES CO₂ condensing unit, with 20 different configurations including low-temperature (LT) and medium-temperature (MT) capacities, will be available in the U.S. by the end of 2024, Dan May, Engineering and Project Manager at AHT, told NaturalRefrigerants.com.

Bitzer: The German compressor manufacturer provides solutions for industrial, commercial and transportation applications.

• “We are bringing our 8-cylinder CO₂ compressor with 140HP capacity to the U.S. for industrial processing and cold storage applications, with availability by the end of 2024,” Miguel Boscan, Application Engineering Manager at Bitzer, told NaturalRefrigerants.com.
• “CO₂ holds the biggest growth segment for compressor demand,” said David Little, SE Regional Sales Manager at Bitzer, adding that a couple of the OEMs the company supplies now manufacture more CO₂ racks than synthetic ones.

Carel: The Italian OEM provides components and control solutions for the HVAC&R sectors.

• The company currently has its HeosBox subcritical CO₂ condensing unit for waterloop applications in the U.S. certification process, with plans to have it available by the end of 2024, Diego Malimpensa, Managing Director of Carel USA West Coast, told NaturalRefrigerants.com.
• The unit comes in four models, with capacities ranging from 4 to 14kW (1.1 to 4TR) depending on the set outlet temperature, ranging from −22 to 32°F (−30 to 0°C).

Carlyle Compressor: As a brand of Carrier Global Corporation, U.S.-based Carlyle manufactures reciprocating and screw compressors.

• Matthew Mowers, Senior Engineering Manager at Carlyle, told NaturalRefrigerants.com that the company is moving its 06V semi-hermetic CO₂ reciprocating compressor ‒ previously used only in shipping containers ‒ to commercial refrigeration and AC applications due to industry demand. The unit provides 2.8TR (4.7kW) in high-temperature applications, 2.3TR (4.6kW) in MT and 0.9TR (4.1kW) in LT, with the design allowing for cooling between stages.
• The company has also refreshed its 5H open-drive compressor with new castings for ammonia refrigerant, with 25, 40 and 50HP models available.

Danfoss: The Danish component manufacturer offers solutions for numerous markets, including HVAC and refrigeration.

• According to Key Account Manager Steve Renz, the company is making its combination CO₂ ejector that capitalizes on the “Venturi effect” available to the U.S. market.
• The unit increases CO₂ operational efficiencies with “free compression,” Renz told NaturalRefrigerants.com, with a pilot Pennsylvania store seeing an average 14% reduction in annual energy consumption.

Frascold: The Italian compressor manufacturer provides industrial, commercial and refrigerated transport solutions.

• Kevin Nelson, National Sales Manager at Frascold US, told NaturalRefrigerants.com that the company recently released its Aluminum Series screw compressors for ammonia systems to the U.S. market. The series comes in four models, ranging from 130‒160HP with LT and MT applications.
• “We also have an up to 30HP LT 2-stage CO₂ compressor in the certification process, with an expected U.S. release in the second quarter of 2025,” he said.
• Mid-next year, Frascold also plans to launch a 160HP CO₂ compressor to provide what Nelson claimed as the “largest displacement” available for CO₂ transcritical operations.

Heatcraft Worldwide Refrigeration: The U.S. company offers evaporators, condensers, condensing units and refrigeration controls.

• The manufacturer has released an adiabatic gas cooler using variable speed motor technology with a 26‒240TR (91‒844kW) capacity range.
• “Since the unit does not yet appear on our HUB site, clients can request quotes through a Heatcraft sales representative,” Ben Picker, Heatcraft Product Manager, told NaturalRefrigerants.com.

Keeprite Refrigeration: With manufacturing facilities in Ontario and Texas, the North American company produces heat transfer products, evaporator coils, condensers and condensing units.

• To meet demand, the company has released a newly developed line of CO₂ evaporators, with a high-side CO₂ gas cooler coming early next year, John Murray, President of Keeprite, told NaturalRefrigerants.com.
• According to Murray, the manufacturer is building a new factory in Texas dedicated to CO₂ refrigeration equipment production.

Sanhua: As a global provider of HVAC&R components and controls, the manufacturer is bringing its 120bar (1,740psi) CO₂ solenoid valve and 140bar (2,030psi) CO₂ ball valve to the U.S. market, Sathisit Jegan, Portfolio Manager at Sanhua, told NaturalRefrigerants.com.

Parker Hannifin: Last February, the North American component manufacturer released an electronic gas cooler and flash gas bypass valve for transcritical CO₂ applications rated at 140bar.

Rivacold: The Italian HVAC&R manufacturer released a transcritical CO₂ condensing unit to the U.S. market last February, providing capacities from 4.8 to 38.6kW (1.4 to 124.7TR) depending on the set operating range from 5 to 20°F (−15 to −6.7°C).

• “The CO₂ market in the U.S. is picking up, especially in food retail,” Doug Schmidt, President Rivacold, told NaturalRefrigerants.com.

SPX Cooling Technologies: The U.S. manufacturer of cooling towers, evaporative condensers and air-cooled heat exchangers released its Recold OlympusV adiabatic cooler last February.

• The unit incorporates a water hardness sensor, Johnathon Walker, HVAC and Process Manager at SPX, told NaturalRefrigerants.com, which helps prevent clogging.
• The design options allow two to six fans for up to 350TR (1,231kW) capacities.