Sustainable refrigeration technology: University of Bayreuth hands over new CO₂ air conditioning system to Kulmbach Vocational School Centre  

"The cooperation between the University of Bayreuth’s ZET and the Vocational School Centre Kulmbach was supported by great commitment from all involved. The air conditioning system installed today gives pupils at BSZ access to the most up-to-date know-how research has to offer. As future specialists, they can use this system to develop an understanding of important energy technology issues that need to be solved while complying with strict ecological requirements," says Alexander Battistella, director of BSZ. A first test run recently met with great interest among the students of BSZ. In class, they learned about the ecological advantages of CO₂ as a refrigerant and learned about current changes in EU law aimed at increasing climate protection.

In comparison with the conventional refrigerant R410a, the ecological balance of CO₂ air-conditioning systems is most impressive. Assuming weather and climate conditions typical for Germany, the greenhouse gas emissions of air conditioning systems can be reduced by around 26 percent through the use of CO₂. If the currently forecast expansion of renewable energies in the electricity sector is taken as a basis, the CO₂ air-conditioning system will even make it possible to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 49 percent in 2050 compared to the current state of the art. Moreover, the studies at ZET showed that control strategies used in the operation of air conditioning systems can significantly influence greenhouse gas emissions.

"Researching and testing innovative energy technologies that are highly efficient in economic terms, and at the same time sustainably promote climate and environmental protection, has been a central field of work at the University of Bayreuth’s ZET for many years. In a large number of projects, we work closely with companies and public institutions in Upper Franconia, as today's commissioning of the CO₂ air conditioning system in Kulmbach proves. I am very pleased that, with this pilot project, we are building a bridge from university research to the practical training of pupils passionate about energy technology issues, who see their professional future in this field," says Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dieter Brüggemann, Director of ZET.