Adapting to Rising Temperatures: Highlights and Proceedings from the 1st IIR International Adaptation Conference

Organized by the Institute of Refrigeration (IOR) UK, the event featured 48 oral presentations, 7 workshops, 1 short course, and 3 keynote speeches, offering a comprehensive look at how the RACHP sector can adapt to increasingly frequent and intense heatwaves.

 

Key Takeaways

 

• Performance Under Heat Stress: Studies confirmed that traditional cooling systems struggle under high ambient temperatures, prompting calls to revise design standards and operational assumptions.
• Retrofit Innovations: Case studies showcased successful upgrades, such as replacing legacy ammonia systems with modular low-charge units, improving energy efficiency and safety.
• Urban and Building Resilience: Research highlighted the vulnerability of UK housing stock to extreme heat, emphasizing the need for integrated mechanical cooling and supportive policy frameworks.
• Digitalisation and Smart Systems: Workshops explored the use of digital twins and industrial data to optimize system performance, with district cooling and heat-pump networks presented as scalable solutions.
• Best Practice Framework: A UK-led initiative was launched to develop a Code of Practice for Designing, Maintaining, and Operating Refrigeration Systems under Climate Stress, in collaboration with IOR, IMechE, CIBSE, CCI, BSRIA, LSBU, and the Environment Agency.

 

Celebrating Scientific Excellence

 

The conference recognized outstanding student contributions:

• Best Paper – Managing Risk: Modeling Water Condensation on Fruit Bulks – Thanut Nuangjamnong (Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE)
• Future Landscape Theme Winner: CO₂ Refrigeration on Small Fishing Vessels – Alex Reimer (NTNU)
• ESG Theme Winner: R472B as R23 Alternative for Ultra-low Temperature Refrigeration – Pau Giménez-Prades (Universitat Jaume I)

 

Community and Collaboration

 

With support from sponsors including Orbia, Star Refrigeration, J&E Hall, IK Technologies, and Refcom, the conference fostered vibrant exchanges through social events such as the Welcome Reception, Conference Dinner, and Student Networking Session.

 

Access the Proceedings

 

The Book of Proceedings from the conference is now available on FRIDOC, the IIR’s digital library. Members and subscribers can access the full collection of peer-reviewed papers via FRIDOC.

This landmark event reaffirmed refrigeration’s critical role in climate adaptation, public health, and sustainable development. The IIR thanks all participants and organizers for their contributions and looks forward to continued collaboration in advancing resilient refrigeration solutions.

 

Access the proceedings on FRIDOC

 

Access to individual peer-reviewed papers (free for IIR members)