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Penetration of transcritical CO2 continues to increase

In Europe, North America and Japan, the number of transcritical CO2 installations continues to increase significantly in commercial and industrial refrigeration. 

The December 2023 edition of the ATMOsphere report "Natural Refrigerants: State of the Industry" (1) shows a significant increase in the number of transcritical CO2 installations in both retail and industrial sites in major markets throughout the world.  

 

  • In Europe, the leading market, there were approximately 68,500 food retail stores using transcritical CO2 systems in December 2023.  
    Of these, 60,000 use a centralised system (one or more compressor racks), and 8,500 use condensing units.  The number of stores equipped with racks grew by 20% compared to last year, while those with condensing units grew by 70%. 
    As of December 2023, the market penetration of transcritical CO2 systems in European stores has increased to 22.9%, up from 18.4% one year ago and 14.1% two years ago. In December 2022, ATMOsphere estimated a market size of 299,025 European food retail outlets, and in December 2023 this has dropped slightly to 298,600. 
    There are an estimated 3,300 industrial sites using CO2 technology. These 3,300 sites represent a 65% increase on the 2,000 industrial sites using transcritical CO2 one year ago. 

 

  • In North America, as of December 2023, there were approximately 2,930 food retail stores using transcritical CO2 systems, up more than 80% from 1,605 in December 2022 and 945 in December 2020. Of these 2,930 stores, 1,850 were in the U.S. and 1,080 in Canada. 
    Based on an estimated number of 71,492 supermarkets and grocery stores, the market penetration of transcritical CO2 systems in North America reached 4.1% this year, up from 2.2% one year ago. 
    There were also 498 industrial sites using transcritical CO2 in North America, 208 in the U.S. (up from 120 in 2022) and 290 in Canada (up from 170 in 2022). All told, there was a total of 3,428 transcritical CO2 sites in North America. 
     
  • In Japan, as of December 2023, there were 8,385 stores, including 7,800 convenience stores and 585 supermarkets, using transcritical CO2 systems, mostly outdoor condensing units, up 26% from 6,630 stores (6,330 convenience/300 supermarkets) reported in December 2022. The 2023 figure represents a retail market penetration for transcritical CO2 of 10.9%. 
    There were also an estimated 400 industrial sites (mostly cold storage) using transcritical CO2 installations, up 21% from the 330 reported in 2021. With industrial site installations, the total number of transcritical CO2 installations in Japan was 8,785 sites in December 2023.
     
  • ATMOsphere estimates that regulatory action was the main driver for the adoption of natural refrigerants: EU F-gas regulation in the European Union and the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act in the US. In Japan, the government’s natural refrigerant subsidy program has been a major driver of adoption. 
     

Technological improvements also contribute to making CO2 solutions attractive, including in hot countries. 

 

See the report