MHI-AC&R wins JARAC award for CO2-based cooling unit retrofit

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Corporation (MHI-AC&R) has received a Recommendation Award in the Refurbishment Equipment category of the 42nd Excellent Energy Saving Equipment Awards presented by the Japan Association of Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Contractors (JARAC). The award recognizes energy savings and carbon emissions reductions achieved through retrofitting a cold-storage warehouse with the company’s C-puzzle80 refrigeration condensing unit, which uses carbon dioxide (CO2) as a natural refrigerant.

The award-winning project involved refurbishment of a 30-year-old facility operated by Kanefuji Cold Storage Co., Ltd. in Hokkaido. Following a detailed operational study, MHI-AC&R proposed an upgrade targeting improved energy efficiency and lower emissions. Installation of the C-puzzle80 unit led to an 11.3% reduction in power consumption and an annual CO2 emissions cut of 31.95 tons. The retrofit was completed while the facility remained in operation, and included post-installation performance verification.

The C-puzzle80, the largest capacity unit in its series (ranging from 10HP to 80HP), supports ambient temperatures between -15℃ and +43℃. The system is suitable for a range of applications including cold and frozen storage and multi-purpose cooling. Its design also eliminates the need for manufacturing reports under the High Pressure Gas Safety Law.

Additional measures implemented in the project included reducing the number of freezers and cooling units based on calculated load, modifying air ducts and cooling equipment to minimize product desiccation, and applying a new control system that combines power demand control with standardization. This system automatically regulates unit operation to maintain efficient performance and minimize unnecessary compressor cycling.

“This marks the fifth consecutive year MHI-AC&R has received a JARAC Award,” the company noted, highlighting its continued focus on carbon neutrality and energy-efficient technologies.