Chilled by the sun: Moran trials solar reefer
Multi-temperature logistics specialist Moran Logistics recently completed a 10-day trial of Sunswap’s battery and solar-powered transport refrigeration technology on real-world routes for Arla Foods, one of the world’s largest dairy companies.
The trial demonstrated the Endurance electric transport refrigeration unit’s (eTRU’s) ability to maintain chilled goods at 2 degrees Celsius during transportation using solar power, with collected data indicating the unit could operate solely on solar energy throughout the entire trial period, Sunswap reported. The solar panels on the trailer’s roof are a key element of the system, reducing the need for grid charging, increasing range flexibility, and lowering costs by minimizing the need for additional batteries.
To explore Endurance’s capabilities, UK-based Moran used solar power and grid charging, allowing managers to understand the system’s versatility and ease of integration.
“At Moran, we’re committed to embracing sustainability and reaching our net-zero target by 2030,” Nick Mackay, Moran transport operations director, said in a news release. “Initially, we approached this trial carefully as with any new technology. However, the Sunswap Endurance unit quickly proved itself, performing exactly as we needed—just like any other fridge in our fleet, but with zero emissions.
“This trial has shown us that we don’t need to compromise on performance to achieve our sustainability goals.”
Trial results suggest “significant” potential savings, Sunswap maintained, including a 79% reduction in operational expenses (OpEx) and a 27% decrease in total cost of ownership (TCO) compared to traditional diesel units.
Beyond financial advantages, the environmental impact is “substantial,” the company added. If Moran were to equip 260 trailers with Endurance units, it could eliminate 29,739 tons of CO2 and 288 tons of NOx.
“Our trial with Moran Logistics further validates the effectiveness of our battery and solar-powered refrigeration technology,” said Alastair Gough, Sunswap head of business development. “The Endurance unit could have run entirely on solar demonstrating that sustainable solutions can seamlessly integrate into existing logistics operations. This follows our previous successful trials with Muller and GIST that ran without the need for charging, reinforcing that solar power is a game-changer in refrigerated transport.”
