Commercial and Industrial Refrigeration Market Assessment Final Report

Abstract

This study identified a number of refrigeration system measures not previously targeted by Minnesota programs that have the potential to increase statewide program impact by an estimated 26,000 megawatt hours over a three-year program implementation cycle. The estimated potential program impact is outlined in Table 2 with a breakdown by subsector and applicability to existing versus new refrigeration systems.

Prescriptive programs in Minnesota have had most of their success with grocery sector measures aimed at particular display equipment load reduction items (e.g., high-efficiency doors, high-efficiency fan motors, display case lighting, and antisweat heater controls) that are often only cost-effective as an incremental upgrade at the time that equipment is replaced. However, the study identified 13 cost- effective measures that optimize energy use in existing facilities that have not been widely recognized or targeted by CIP program efforts in Minnesota.1 Many of these system optimization measures are consistently applicable across the different sectors, while others — especially the load reduction measures — are limited to only one or two sectors. Six measures that are applicable to new systems and currently not well addressed in Minnesota by prescriptive rebates were also identified as potential growth areas.