Case Study 7 — Food Processing & Cold Chain
One Energy System for Heat, Cooling and Power
The Challenge
Food processing requires heat, refrigeration and dependable electricity simultaneously, and all three carry rising cost and emissions exposure.
The Numbers
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Refrigeration accounts for roughly 15% of global electricity consumption and 40–70% of electricity use within cold stores, meat plants and frozen food factories.
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Cold chain emissions across the global agrifood system reached 1.32 Gt CO₂-eq in 2022, more than double 2000 levels.
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Indirect emissions from the energy used to power refrigeration are more than twice the direct emissions from refrigerants themselves.
Why Existing Solutions Fall Short
Heat, cooling and power are typically sourced separately — gas for heat, electricity for refrigeration, the grid for power — multiplying cost and carbon exposure.
Refrigeration alone can dominate a facility's electricity demand, driving steep peak charges.
Retrofitting three separate systems is capital-intensive.
iQ-LOOP's Solution
iQ-LOOP integrates all three needs from one circular energy platform. CREATE supplies heat directly, drives absorption chilling, and generates electricity on site — all from the same stored aluminium energy inventory.
Example Reference Project
Integrated CREATE installation supplying process heat, absorption cooling and supplemental power to a food processing or cold storage facility.
Modelled Impact
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Reduced natural gas use
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Lower electricity demand
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Reduced peak charges
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Integrated heat, cooling and power from one system
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Improved resilience
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Predictable energy costs
Why Now?
Cold chain energy demand and emissions are rising quickly, and processors face growing pressure to decarbonise heat and refrigeration together, not one at a time.
Vision for the Future
Heat. Cooling. Power.
One Circular Energy System.