Carrier’s Sustainable Natural Refrigerant Technology Supports COVID-19 Vaccine Storage in Spain

Carrier Commercial Refrigeration recently equipped a COVID-19 vaccine storage warehouse in Spain with its PowerCO2OL refrigeration system that utilizes the natural refrigerant carbon dioxide (CO2). This is the first time the sustainable, low global warming potential (GWP) refrigerant is being used to preserve and protect the efficacy of critical vaccines in Spain. To further support a safe and effective cold chain, Carrier’s flagship high-capacity refrigeration racks were fitted into an extension of an existing Carrier-equipped site.

Vaccines require accurate temperature control throughout the cold chain to maintain efficacy and Carrier Commercial Refrigeration has a long track record of warehouse installations and a comprehensive line of refrigeration systems for the safe storage of pharmaceuticals, including vaccines.

This COVID-19 vaccine warehouse opened in Spain in 2021. The customer selected Carrier to equip the first phase of work due to the all-in-one solutions’ delivery capability.

“Carrier is committed to maintaining a safe and sustainable cold chain. It is even more critical when it comes to protecting the integrity of vital COVID-19 vaccines,” said David Appel, President, Carrier Commercial Refrigeration. “Our natural refrigerant technology, featured in the PowerCO2OL refrigeration system, delivers proven accuracy and efficiency for better control over cold chain storage.”

Highly adaptable, efficient and delivering high-capacity output, the PowerCO2OL system achieves a cooling capacity up to 1.5 megawatts per rack. Carrier has designed installations up to 5 megawatts by combining five racks – reaching negative temperatures until -45 C and precise temperature control up to +/-2 Kelvin. It comes as a single- or dual-temperature solution and can be packaged in either indoor or outdoor configurations managed by a user-friendly and flexible controller. The system provides high-energy efficiency due to its integrated COOLtec  EVO technology. It also ensures a minimal carbon footprint thanks to the use of the CO2 refrigerant , with a GWP of one.

Carrier’s PowerCO2OL system provides an energy-efficient, environmentally-responsible solution that helps contribute to Carrier's goal of reducing its customers' carbon footprint by one gigaton as part of its environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals for 2030.