Greenyard Cuts Energy Costs with BITZER Ammonia Refrigeration System

The BITZER Ammonia Compressor Pack (ACP-85) provides up to 310kW of cooling for Greenyard's frozen food store in Boston, Lincolnshire. It replaces an aging refrigeration system that was becoming inefficient and costly to maintain. The new unit offers improved energy efficiency while fitting within the site’s existing space constraints.

Ben Armstrong, director of Armstrong Refrigeration Services Ltd, explained: “The customer's main requirements were to reduce energy consumption, cut servicing costs, and provide the necessary cooling duty with a compact solution that could be accommodated in the plant room.”

Although this was Armstrong’s first ACP installation, the project was completed smoothly with technical support from BITZER UK and Germany. “We planned the project carefully to minimise cooling downtime, and the switchover was completed in just half a day,” Armstrong added.

Since installation, energy use has fallen by 20%, leading to annual savings exceeding £100,000. Combined with reduced servicing costs, the project is expected to pay for itself within a year.

Paul Spurrell, Greenyard’s Project and Utility Engineering Services Manager, said: “Sustainability and reducing the environmental impact of our operations is a key focus for our business. Our strategic goal is to cut CO₂ emissions by 50% by 2025 (from a 2020 baseline) and by 70% by 2030. The new BITZER ammonia refrigeration system helps us meet these targets while also reducing costs.”

Following the project’s success, Greenyard has specified a second BITZER ACP system to replace another aging unit at the site.

BITZER’s ACP range offers high-efficiency cooling using ammonia, a zero Global Warming Potential (GWP) refrigerant. The system includes an integrated Variable Speed Drive (VSD) for improved part-load efficiency and a soft-start function, beneficial for sites with limited power capacity.

Kevin Glass, Managing Director of BITZER UK, noted: “Ammonia refrigeration systems have traditionally been built as one-offs, often in less-than-ideal conditions. BITZER builds ACP units in a high-quality factory environment, ensuring maximum system integrity.”

He added: “Armstrong Refrigeration’s project for Greenyard is an excellent example of ACP’s environmental and cost-saving benefits, with the short payback period making it a highly attractive investment.”

A key advantage of the ACP system is its extended maintenance intervals compared to reciprocating compressors, further reducing lifetime ownership costs.