ACHR NEWS Editorial Staff

BRIDGETON, Mo. — Hussmann has recently added production capacity for transcritical carbon dioxide CO₂ rack systems in its Suwanee, Georgia, facility.

The rapid adoption of CO₂ technology by many retailers has placed a strain on current OEM capabilities, and Hussmann is responding to meet the challenge, a press release from the company said.

Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives, upcoming regulations and HFC phase-downs are rapidly accelerating the demand for transcritical CO₂ systems. With the anticipated January 2025 implementation of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations, Hussmann is expecting to see the demand for CO₂ products accelerate, the company said.

The expansion of these production capabilities are focused on Hussmann’s large outdoor transcritical rack platform, part of the Evolve Technologies portfolio, and is designed to serve large- and medium-sized retail floorplans. This unit’s footprint is optimized to consider loading limitations in areas where snow is common, and is flexible enough to accommodate various internal configurations, the company said.

Compared to a traditional HFC, transcritical CO₂ systems have a GWP of 1, providing a refrigeration solution that has the lowest possible environmental impact, the company said. Hussmann’s transcritical CO₂ system is UL listed, compliant in all 50 states, meets the parameters of the upcoming EPA regulations, and provides an advantage for retailers looking to meet their ESG goals, the company said.

Transcritical CO₂ rack systems are ideally suited for new projects where there is no existing refrigeration infrastructure, the company said. Refrigerated display cases, unit coolers, and piping from existing synthetic systems are not suitable for use in a CO₂ application.