The IIR remains a key partner in European refrigeration projects

EU research projects dedicated to refrigeration

In line with its international activities, the International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR) is currently a partner of three European research projects focused on very distinct areas of refrigeration technology.

The IIR’s principal role as a partner will be to disseminate the research outcomes of the projects through its publications, conferences, workshops and various other means in order to promote refrigeration knowledge worldwide.

The projects:

REAL Alternatives for LIFE: Blended learning for alternative refrigerants

Financed by the EU's funding instrument for the environment and climate action, the LIFE programme, the REAL Alternatives for LIFE project is an extension of the initial REAL Alternatives project.

The 3-year project, scheduled to end in May 2020, aims to standardise skill sets and requirements for handling alternative refrigerants across the globe. As such, the project will develop new and update existing training material in the field, and will introduce a range of practical exercises and assessments to certify the level of competencies.

A consortium of European training centres and associations, in partnership with the IIR, will also provide “train the trainer” sessions focused on flammable refrigerants and carbon dioxide.

More information on REAL Alternatives for LIFE

CryoHub: Energy storage through air liquefaction

Funded by Horizon 2020, this three and a half year project began in April 2016 and will conclude in September 2019.

In view of the increasing use of renewable energies such as solar and wind technologies, which operate intermittently, it is important to be able to store the surplus energy produced throughout the day, and to be able to restore it when an insufficient quantity is produced.

The CryoHub project is set to investigate and develop new technologies for large-scale cryogenic energy storage through air liquefaction. Similarly, the project aims to explore the application of stored energy, for both cooling and energy generation, to meet cooling and heating needs.

More information on CryoHub

SuperSmart: Reducing energy consumption in the food retail sector

SuperSmart, a 3-year project scheduled to conclude in January 2019, aims to reduce the energy consumption in supermarkets (mainly in terms of heating and cooling), which accounts for almost 4% of the entire power consumption in Europe.

Funded by Horizon 2020, the project will research how energy consumption could be reduced with better practices through education and information, or by changing the way in which energy resources are used.

More information on SuperSmart

Do you require a dissemination partner for your refrigeration research project?

Contact Ina Colombo (IIR Deputy Director General) at i.colombo@iifiir.org.