Enova and GreenChill Systems have announced a joint solution that enables cold chain operators to use refrigerated trailers as flexible on-site energy storage. The partnership combines Enova’s energy optimisation platform with GreenChill refrigerated trailers designed for bi-directional charging.
The solution is aimed at operators facing limited grid import capacity, rising energy costs, volatile tariffs and the need to electrify depot and transport operations without immediate grid upgrades. GreenChill trailers equipped with battery storage can serve on-site demand or export power to the grid, depending on site grid capacity, operational requirements and commercial conditions.
GreenChill’s Solar-Electric System retrofits refrigerated trailers with modular lithium battery storage, rooftop solar generation and intelligent control systems, while retaining the original diesel engine as an automatic fail-safe. Its PMS system integrates into depot operations and uses parked or idle trailers as mobile battery storage units.
Enova’s platform manages when stored energy is used across depot operations. It responds to dynamic time-of-use tariffs, peak demand periods and real-time market pricing, charging trailers when electricity is cheapest and discharging power back into site operations when costs are highest.
Operational data from early deployments shows eradication of diesel use, with refrigeration systems operating on stored electric energy, as well as site-level electricity savings through optimised load-shifting, peak-shaving and flexible operation.
“The GreenChill system is an obvious on-site storage solution for cold chain operators looking to reduce both diesel and electricity costs. Not only can it pay for itself through diesel savings, it also lowers depot energy costs by using trailers as flexible, stationary storage. This is increasingly viable as the UK accelerates the adoption of vehicle-to-grid technology,” said Tanya Mulesa, UK Business Development Manager at Enova.
