Straus Family Creamery Introduces Groundbreaking Cold Storage Technology
Source: DairyNews.today
Straus Family Creamery, a leader in organic dairy products, is set to revolutionize the commercial cold storage sector with the introduction of 100% electric heat pump refrigeration technology.
This innovative system, aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving energy efficiency, marks a significant step towards sustainability in dairy manufacturing.
Collaborative Effort for a Sustainable Future
The project is a collaborative effort between several industry leaders, including Alter Engineers, Avida Energy, DMG North, Flow Environmental Systems, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, ProspectSV, and Straus Family Creamery. Funded by the California Energy Commission, this initiative is the first of its kind and will be implemented at Straus Family Creamery’s dairy manufacturing facility in Rohnert Park, California. The project will officially commence in September 2024 and is expected to span over two and a half years.
The ANSWR CO2 Heat Pump System
At the heart of this project is the Flow Environmental Systems’ ANSWR CO2 Heat Pump system, an advanced, 100% electric heat pump that offers versatile applications, including cooling, freezing, chilling, and heating. This system is designed to provide low and medium temperature refrigeration by efficiently reclaiming heat from the refrigeration cycle, which is then used for defrosting, thereby minimizing energy consumption. Importantly, ANSWR replaces traditional fossil fuel and synthetic refrigerants with safe and efficient CO2 refrigerants, making it a groundbreaking solution for industrial-scale refrigeration.
Sean Jarvie, Chief Technology Officer of Flow Environmental Systems, highlighted the importance of this innovation: “Efficiency and carbon footprint reduction is at the core of Flow’s innovative heat pump design. Straus Family Creamery’s use of ANSWR to satisfy multiple heating and cooling processes makes the technology an ideal application that maximizes efficiency and reduces peak demand, resulting in beneficial impacts on costs, grid congestion, and the environment.”
Impact on the Dairy Industry and Beyond
Joseph Button, Vice President of Sustainability & Strategic Impact at Straus Family Creamery, expressed enthusiasm for the project’s potential: “We are tremendously excited that this project will drive operational efficiency improvements and climate impact reductions at the Creamery. Even more, we are thrilled to help facilitate industry-wide advancement of this important climate solution through partnership, demonstration, and shared learning.”
By integrating the ANSWR CO2 Heat Pump system into their operations, Straus Family Creamery is not only enhancing its own sustainability efforts but also setting a precedent for the broader food and beverage industry. The project is expected to lead to significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, improved energy efficiency, and cost savings, all while maintaining the high quality of Straus Family Creamery’s organic dairy products.
A Vision for the Future
As the project progresses, it will serve as a model for other industries looking to adopt sustainable refrigeration technologies. The success of this initiative could pave the way for widespread adoption of electric heat pump systems, contributing to global efforts to reduce carbon emissions and combat climate change.
Straus Family Creamery’s commitment to sustainability and innovation continues to position the company as a leader in the organic dairy sector, driving positive change both within the industry and for the environment as a whole.
Collaborative Effort for a Sustainable Future
The project is a collaborative effort between several industry leaders, including Alter Engineers, Avida Energy, DMG North, Flow Environmental Systems, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, ProspectSV, and Straus Family Creamery. Funded by the California Energy Commission, this initiative is the first of its kind and will be implemented at Straus Family Creamery’s dairy manufacturing facility in Rohnert Park, California. The project will officially commence in September 2024 and is expected to span over two and a half years.
The ANSWR CO2 Heat Pump System
At the heart of this project is the Flow Environmental Systems’ ANSWR CO2 Heat Pump system, an advanced, 100% electric heat pump that offers versatile applications, including cooling, freezing, chilling, and heating. This system is designed to provide low and medium temperature refrigeration by efficiently reclaiming heat from the refrigeration cycle, which is then used for defrosting, thereby minimizing energy consumption. Importantly, ANSWR replaces traditional fossil fuel and synthetic refrigerants with safe and efficient CO2 refrigerants, making it a groundbreaking solution for industrial-scale refrigeration.
Sean Jarvie, Chief Technology Officer of Flow Environmental Systems, highlighted the importance of this innovation: “Efficiency and carbon footprint reduction is at the core of Flow’s innovative heat pump design. Straus Family Creamery’s use of ANSWR to satisfy multiple heating and cooling processes makes the technology an ideal application that maximizes efficiency and reduces peak demand, resulting in beneficial impacts on costs, grid congestion, and the environment.”
Impact on the Dairy Industry and Beyond
Joseph Button, Vice President of Sustainability & Strategic Impact at Straus Family Creamery, expressed enthusiasm for the project’s potential: “We are tremendously excited that this project will drive operational efficiency improvements and climate impact reductions at the Creamery. Even more, we are thrilled to help facilitate industry-wide advancement of this important climate solution through partnership, demonstration, and shared learning.”
By integrating the ANSWR CO2 Heat Pump system into their operations, Straus Family Creamery is not only enhancing its own sustainability efforts but also setting a precedent for the broader food and beverage industry. The project is expected to lead to significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, improved energy efficiency, and cost savings, all while maintaining the high quality of Straus Family Creamery’s organic dairy products.
A Vision for the Future
As the project progresses, it will serve as a model for other industries looking to adopt sustainable refrigeration technologies. The success of this initiative could pave the way for widespread adoption of electric heat pump systems, contributing to global efforts to reduce carbon emissions and combat climate change.
Straus Family Creamery’s commitment to sustainability and innovation continues to position the company as a leader in the organic dairy sector, driving positive change both within the industry and for the environment as a whole.
