Abstract
Above 60% of food in the UK is dependent on the cold chain and an estimated 2 - 4% of the UK’s total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is associated with food refrigeration [1]. Refrigerated vehicles are essential parts of the modern cold chain distribution system, particularly in linking farmers and consumers while
extending perishable food's shelf life and helping meet the required regulatory temperature constraints.
Transport Refrigeration Units (TRUs) are presently primarily powered by diesel fuel. The UK government is committed to Net Zero emissions by 2050 from all sectors, including transportation, hence decarbonisation of this sector is paramount. The present paper aims to estimate the energy demand and emissions of the UK temperature-controlled transport using a bottom-up approach. Only energy and emissions associated with the TRUs of road refrigerated transport are considered, while traction-related fuel is excluded. Depending on their sizes, refrigerated vehicles were categorised into cargo (motorcycles and tricycles), vans (<3.5 tonnes), trucks (>3.5 ≤ 18 tonnes) and
trailers (>18 tonnes). The study estimates the number of temperature-controlled vehicles in the UK to be around 158,934 ± 46,326. This includes 4,391 - 8,004 E-cargo bikes; 44,877 - 81,802 vans; 21,561 – 39,301 trucks and 41,778 - 76,152 trailers. Depending on the number of vehicles, the total annual energy and emissions associated with transport refrigeration units varied between 5.13 - 9.36 TWh and 1.44 - 2.62 MtCO2e respectively. Scope I emissions vary between 1.44 to 2.62 MtCO2e (0.20 - 0.36 MtCO2
e from refrigerant usage and 1.23 - 2.26 MtCO2
e from fuel
use). The Scope II emissions which is the emissions associated with electricity consumption also varied between
446.2 and 813.4 tCO2e
extending perishable food's shelf life and helping meet the required regulatory temperature constraints.
Transport Refrigeration Units (TRUs) are presently primarily powered by diesel fuel. The UK government is committed to Net Zero emissions by 2050 from all sectors, including transportation, hence decarbonisation of this sector is paramount. The present paper aims to estimate the energy demand and emissions of the UK temperature-controlled transport using a bottom-up approach. Only energy and emissions associated with the TRUs of road refrigerated transport are considered, while traction-related fuel is excluded. Depending on their sizes, refrigerated vehicles were categorised into cargo (motorcycles and tricycles), vans (<3.5 tonnes), trucks (>3.5 ≤ 18 tonnes) and
trailers (>18 tonnes). The study estimates the number of temperature-controlled vehicles in the UK to be around 158,934 ± 46,326. This includes 4,391 - 8,004 E-cargo bikes; 44,877 - 81,802 vans; 21,561 – 39,301 trucks and 41,778 - 76,152 trailers. Depending on the number of vehicles, the total annual energy and emissions associated with transport refrigeration units varied between 5.13 - 9.36 TWh and 1.44 - 2.62 MtCO2e respectively. Scope I emissions vary between 1.44 to 2.62 MtCO2e (0.20 - 0.36 MtCO2
e from refrigerant usage and 1.23 - 2.26 MtCO2
e from fuel
use). The Scope II emissions which is the emissions associated with electricity consumption also varied between
446.2 and 813.4 tCO2e
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Publication status | Published - 15 Apr 2024 |
| Event | TechTalk of the Institute of Refrigeration - Duration: 11 Apr 2024 → … |
Seminar
| Seminar | TechTalk of the Institute of Refrigeration |
|---|---|
| Period | 11/04/24 → … |
Rights Retention Statement
- This work was funded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero [FM21297]. For the purpose of open access, the author has applied a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) licence to any Author Accepted Manuscript version arising.
