Project description
Innovative plug-in refrigerator delivers huge energy savings
Plug-in cabinets for commercial refrigeration applications consume a lot more energy compared to household refrigeration units. The EU-funded Reficient project plans to develop an easy-to-use professional refrigerator that could reduce energy consumption by 60 % and CO2 emissions by 30 %. The envisaged system will meet the recently introduced EU regulations on fluorinated greenhouse gases. Furthermore, it will be built using eco-friendly materials, such as biopolymer plastics. Both end users and Tekna SRL – the Italy-based company responsible for developing the refrigeration system – will enjoy long-term profits. The former could see a reduction of 30 % in their electricity bills, while the latter could gain EUR 11 million by 2023.
Objective
Founded in Angera, (Varese, Italy) in 1990, TEKNA Line, is a leader in the design and manufacture of refrigeration unit specialised in Patisseries, Bars & Restaurants, Ice cream and Supermarkets delivering customised products to suit the needs of our customers. TEKNA Line has always been committed to ongoing research on CO2 consumptions, winning a reputation for products with high efficiency, excellent reliability, easy maintenance and long lifespan.
Over the years, we have become a point of reference of this industry, serving important companies, like Ferrero, Barilla, McDonalds, Epta and Switzer group to name a few.
From our customers’ feedback and industry trends we have conceived a new innovative professional refrigerator machine, easy to use, modern looking that will reduce Global Potential Warming (GPW), CO2 emissions by 30% and the energy consumptions by 60%, redefining in depth the standard machine, acting directly on the main components of it. Our project, called REFICIENT is looking ahead and is designed to directly address the upcoming legislations of F-Gases (N. 517/2014), mandatory from 2020, that acts on the fluorinated greenhouse gases, banning the use of R-507 gases, replaced by hydrocarbon refrigerants, like the R-290. This law creates a new market need and a high demand of innovative fridges throughout Europe. Our refrigerator is thought to deliver a highly adaptable commercial refrigerator, designed for lower energy consumption, with feedback & control capability and also built with eco-friendly, new generation material like the bio-polymer plastics. REFICIENT, will lead to long-term profitability for both customers and our company, providing a significantly lower running costs to our client, - 30% electrical costs (€1,954 per year), generating € 11 millions of accumulated profit by 2023 for TEKNA and 9 new positions.
Fields of science
Programme(s)
- H2020-EU.3.3. - SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Secure, clean and efficient energy Main Programme
- H2020-EU.2.1.1. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies - Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)
- H2020-EU.2.3.1. - Mainstreaming SME support, especially through a dedicated instrument
Funding Scheme
SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1Coordinator
21021 ANGERA
Italy
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.