Energy Partners’ recent upgrade at the Lactalis Parow distribution centre has delivered major results: a 150% increase in cold storage capacity and more than a 24% reduction in refrigeration energy use. The project also ensures full compliance with global safety standards and positions the site for future environmental regulations.
Mordernising a legacy cold store
Energy Partners transformed the 1991-era cold store into a high-performance, energy-efficient facility powered by natural refrigerants.
The site presented several complexities, including multiple ageing R22 systems spread across a fragmented layout, structural constraints linked to the original 1991 warehouse design, and the requirement to reuse certain assets to contain capital costs. All improvements also needed to meet Lactalis’s stringent global safety and compliance standards.
Smarter design for improved efficiency
These challenges were addressed through a redesigned warehouse layout, replacing multiple older rooms with a single high-rise cold store for improved thermal performance. Upgraded insulation, high-speed doors, and enhanced docking areas now support more stable temperatures and more efficient loading operations.
Cost-effective, future-ready engineering
The refrigeration plant was upgraded to an ammonia/CO₂/glycol hybrid system, supported by refurbished condensers and repurposed compressors to reduce capital expenditure. Variable speed drives were installed across the plant, and the facility is now fully integrated into Energy Partners’ remote monitoring platform for real-time visibility and 24/7 performance optimisation.
