Solar Powered Refrigeration The Next Big Thing?

Posted in Green by Rick on 08/21 at 01:27 AM

Solar-Powered A/C is now real, McDonald’s is using it. The next step is raising the efficiency so this becomes a real power for walk-in coolers and freezers.

In a series of announcements, GreenCore Air, Inc., has moved solar-powered air conditioning into reality. A McDonald’s franchise in Dallas, TX, “will be supplementing its traditional air conditioning system with the GreenCore solar DC air conditioners in order to reduce energy usage and related monthly operating costs. (CNNmoney.com)"

This is a great step forward in lowering energy costs in foodservice. The next great step will be when the technology is efficient enough to handle the requirements for walk-in coolers and freezers. Definitely, that is a big step up in power requirement, but the change could be on the horizon.

The US Navy is even getting into the act, purchasing and installing units in a remote installation of the Naval Research Laboratories. The Navy requirement is to operate grid-free and uninterrupted 24/7 for all 365 days of the year, a tall order.

Technology like this will eventually help isolate the foodservice business from extreme rises in energy pricing, helping control costs and keeping prices in line with customer expectations.

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