Case Study: Dual Temperature CO₂ Refrigeration System for Bidfood, Nottingham
The Brief
Bidfood, one of the UK’s leading foodservice distributors, required a sustainable, high-performance refrigeration solution for its temperature-controlled distribution centre in Nottingham. The site needed to accommodate extensive storage capacity across multiple temperature zones, including freezer, chilled, and marshalling areas, while improving energy efficiency and aligning with the company’s long-term environmental goals.
With growing regulatory pressure surrounding F-Gas refrigerants, Bidfood sought a future-proof system that would not only meet operational demands but also eliminate its reliance on traditional refrigerants, which are subject to phase-down regulations.
The Solution
Clover Technical Services was commissioned to design and install two dual temperature CO₂ refrigeration systems, providing an innovative and environmentally responsible alternative to conventional systems.
The installation included:
9702m³ of freezer storage maintained
3716m³ of chill storage maintained
6318m³ of marshalling area maintained
Using CO₂ (R744) as the refrigerant provided a non-F-Gas-compliant, A1 safety-rated, and sustainable solution suitable for commercial and industrial applications.
To streamline installation and reduce on-site disruption, modular housed compressor packages were built off-site and delivered for a plug-and-play setup, minimising downtime during integration with the existing infrastructure.
Energy Efficiency & Innovation
Clover incorporated multiple energy-saving features to maximise system efficiency and reduce running costs:
Two adiabatic gas coolers positioned on the roof to restrict transcritical operation and enhance seasonal efficiency.
- Underfloor heating in the freezer store.
- Providing approximately 200kW of free heat to support Bidfood’s operations.
Ceiling-mounted EC fan air coolers designed with efficient coil geometry, frost pattern consideration, and intuitive variable-speed control based on real-time air and refrigerant temperature. Fans operate at roughly 50% of design speed, reducing absorbed power to around 12–15% of design load.
Soft gas defrost system utilising tempered hot gas for fast, low-impact defrosting, minimising heat gain and moisture migration within the cold store.
Variable frequency drive (VFD) compressors to match part-load requirements, further improving efficiency and reducing energy consumption.
Bespoke control via Resource Data Management (RDM) software, enabling full on-site and remote monitoring, 24/7 dial-out to Clover’s service operations, and integrated energy management reporting.
Compliance & Commissioning
The installation was fully commissioned in accordance with UK Pressure Equipment Regulations (PER/PED) and UKCA marking requirements, ensuring full compliance and operational integrity.
The Outcome
Following commissioning and 12 months of operation, Bidfood’s Nottingham distribution centre has recorded annual energy savings of approximately 45–50% compared to its previous system.
The CO₂ refrigeration systems have delivered measurable performance improvements, enhanced reliability, and a substantial reduction in carbon footprint, all of which support Bidfood’s sustainability targets and set a benchmark for future projects within their network.
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