The 3rd Industrial Refrigeration Network Conference 2026 will feature a technical session by Dr Robert Lamb, Group Sales & Marketing Director at Star Refrigeration, on natural refrigerant selection for industrial cooling systems. The conference will take place on 10–11 June 2026 at the SCHAUFLER Academy in Rottenburg-Ergenzingen, Germany.
Dr Lamb will present “Beyond the Hype: Safe, Sustainable Cooling Systems that Stand the Test of Time,” revisiting the debate around ammonia and CO2 in industrial refrigeration. The session will build on his presentation at Cold Chain Live 2025 and introduce updated modelling and operational data for cold storage and freezing applications.
The presentation will compare ammonia and CO2 systems with a focus on lifecycle cost, energy performance and system resilience. According to the source material, ammonia offers high efficiency and long system life in large-scale applications, while CO2 provides compact, non-flammable solutions that can be financially attractive at smaller capacities and low-temperature duties.
The analysis includes a 35,000 m³ cold store model operating at -22°C and a 35°C design ambient. It indicates annual energy consumption of approximately 910,000 kWh for a low-charge ammonia system compared with around 1.25 million kWh for a transcritical CO2 system under identical conditions. At an electricity price of 25p per kWh, the annual operating cost difference is approximately £86,000 [approx. USD 109,000].
The session will also examine how packaged low-charge ammonia systems address concerns around complexity and safety by reducing refrigerant charge and simplifying installation. The Industrial Refrigeration Network Conference is hosted by BITZER at its SCHAUFLER Academy in Germany and brings together manufacturers, contractors and end users from across the sector.
“The discussion should not be framed as ammonia versus CO2. Both technologies have a place. The question is how decision makers balance capital cost, operating efficiency, compliance and long-term resilience in their specific application,” Dr Lamb said.
