Improving energy efficiency through Cooling as a Service (CaaS)

The document details a refrigeration upgrade at Pick ‘n’ Pay Ceres provided by Energy Partners Refrigeration (EPR) using a CaaS model. By replacing an end-of-life simplex system with an air-cooled, direct expansion multiplex rack configuration using R407F refrigerant and variable speed drives, the store reduced average refrigeration energy consumption by 35% and overall cost per refrigeration-hour by 30%. The CaaS model eliminated upfront costs for the client, with EPR owning and maintaining the system over a 10-15 year term, funded by a portion of the monthly energy savings.

• The implementation of a new efficient refrigeration system at Pick ‘n’ Pay Ceres resulted in a 35% reduction in average refrigeration energy consumption and a 30% reduction in the overall cost per refrigeration-hour.
• The technical solution employed an air-cooled, direct expansion multiplex rack configuration using R407F refrigerant for medium temperature loads, which has a lower global warming impact than the R22 refrigerant it replaced. Efficiency was further enhanced by installing variable speed drives on lead compressors and implementing floating condensing pressures, maintaining high suction pressures, and using electronic expansion valves to minimize evaporator superheat.
• The Cooling as a Service (CaaS) model utilized a shared savings arrangement where Energy Partners Refrigeration (EPR) provided the system at no upfront cost, owning and maintaining the equipment over a term of approximately 10-15 years, with costs recovered through a portion of the monthly savings.
• The document notes that replacing end-of-life plants with bespoke, holistically designed systems in commercial and retail businesses can potentially yield energy savings of between 15% and 35%.

APA

Poorun, A., & Kriel, D. (2021). Improving energy efficiency through Cooling as a Service (CaaS). GreenCape. https://greencape.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/ENERGY_EFFICIENCY_CASE_STUDY_18_3_21b-1-v2-3.pdf

Chicago

Poorun, Argon, and Dawie Kriel. Improving energy efficiency through Cooling as a Service (CaaS). GreenCape, 2021. https://greencape.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/ENERGY_EFFICIENCY_CASE_STUDY_18_3_21b-1-v2-3.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Poorun |first1=Argon |last2=Kriel |first2=Dawie |title=Improving energy efficiency through Cooling as a Service (CaaS) |publisher=GreenCape |date=2021 |url=https://greencape.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/ENERGY_EFFICIENCY_CASE_STUDY_18_3_21b-1-v2-3.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{poorun2021improving, author = {Poorun, Argon and Kriel, Dawie}, title = {{Improving energy efficiency through Cooling as a Service (CaaS)}}, institution = {GreenCape}, year = {2021}, url = {https://greencape.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/ENERGY_EFFICIENCY_CASE_STUDY_18_3_21b-1-v2-3.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }