Decarbonizing Our Cities with Electrified Refrigerated  Transport

As the climate continues to change, and risks to human health and well-being continue to grow, one critical area demands our attention: the use of energy recovery technology in our cities to decarbonize transport.

Driving Down Carbon Emissions in Transportation

Transport is responsible for 20% of global emissions. To reduce emissions and decarbonize our cities, we must revolutionize energy used in transport. Any heat released into the environment can be considered wasted, and since it takes energy to produce heat, wasted heat is wasted energy. By recovering energy, we are helping decarbonize transport systems – transforming them from energy sinks into energy sources.

Energy Recovery: A Game Changer for Transportation

New industry standards for emissions reduction and efficiency are being set for commercial transportation. Thermo King specializes in transport refrigeration to ensure the safety of foods and medicines – in a sustainable way. The Thermo King AxlePower energy recovery system, for example, harvests energy when a trailer rolls or brakes, capturing and storing the power in a high-voltage battery that powers the refrigeration unit. Such high-performance, hybrid or fully electric systems can make significant CO2 savings.

During a trial on Woolworths’ long-haul N1 route in South Africa, the vehicle’s battery operated for a distance of 15,000 kilometers to cool the load and only engaged the diesel engine 3% of the time. On the route between Johannesburg and Cape Town, carbon emissions dropped by 27 tons.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), transport emissions are projected to increase by 60% by 2050 if no significant changes are made. This underscores the urgency for adopting energy recovery systems and other sustainable technologies in the transport sector. Furthermore, the European Union has set ambitious targets to reduce transport emissions by 90% by 2050 as part of its Green Deal, highlighting the critical role of innovative solutions like those offered by Thermo King.

Decarbonization Made Easy: Accessible and Affordable Solutions for Sustainable Cities

By now, it should be clear that obstacles to creating decarbonized cities are not technological. So, what is? One common misconception is that sustainable solutions are prohibitively expensive. In reality, the energy efficiency and CO2 reductions achieved through these technologies often result in short payback periods, sometimes within just two to three years.

Another myth is that these systems are complex and only applicable to new transport systems. This is far from the truth. Fleet owners looking to switch to electric solutions will find that next-generation energy recovery systems, like Thermo King AxlePower, are more efficient and less reliant on recharging stations and fossil fuels.

 For example, Woolworths and DP World have implemented Thermo King’s AxlePower system in South Africa, achieving 97% self-generated electricity during transit, covering over 150,000 km, and preventing up to 20 tons of CO₂ emissions annually, proving the effectiveness of sustainable transport solutions. Read all about it here.

Financing, often perceived as a barrier, is also readily available. The key is to finance the future, not outdated systems. Thermo King offers rental services for their innovative solutions, making it easier for businesses to adopt sustainable practices without significant upfront capital investment. The AxlePower Trailer Rental and High Voltage Battery Rental services provide flexible and cost-effective options for fleet owners to transition to greener technologies. These rental solutions allow companies to benefit from advanced energy recovery systems while managing their cash flow more effectively.

The World Bank has initiated several funding programs aimed at supporting sustainable transport projects globally. These programs provide financial assistance and incentives for adopting green technologies in the transport sector. Additionally, organizations like the Global Environment Facility (GEF) offer grants and funding to projects that aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, making it easier for companies to transition to sustainable practices.

The Future is Now: Time for Action

The path to decarbonizing our cities lies in these sustainable and energy recovery solutions. As we move forward, policymakers, industry leaders, and communities must work together to embrace this vision.

Decarbonizing our cities is within reach, and the benefits for our planet and future generations are immeasurable.

Decarbonizing Urban Deliveries: Discover Thermo King’s Comprehensive Green Solutions

Read the full original blog post ‘Decarbonizing Our Cities is Within Reach’ on Trane Technologies blogpage here.