ET25SWE0057 - Field Assessment of R-454C Compared to R-404A / CO2 Supermarket Systems

The field assessment conducted under this project will evaluate the real-world energy performance and market adoption barriers of R-454C refrigeration systems in supermarkets. R454C is a next-generation, low-global warming potential (“GWP”) hydrofluoroolefin (“HFO”‑) blend that could serve as a lower-cost, lower-barrier alternative to high-GWP refrigerants like R-404A, especially for stores that face infrastructure or cost barriers to adopting natural refrigerants such as carbon dioxide ("CO2"). This assessment will target market barriers such as lack of field-verified performance data applicable to California climate zones for R454C, limited awareness among store operators and contractors about real-world performance and safety, and uncertainty about return on investment. Many smaller stores, particularly in Disadvantaged Communities (“DACs”) and Hard-to-Reach (“HTR”‑) areas, may lack the capital or support to transition to CO₂ systems and could benefit from retrofit options that reduce emissions and energy costs.

This project will study customer information such as real-world monitoring of energy use and demand profiles, including stakeholder engagement to identify adoption challenges, and development of actionable recommendations for utility programs. The project will incorporate host-provided operational and energy-use data from existing R-454C systems located outside the state, using data produced by the facility’s own monitoring systems. No CalNEXT-funded M&V equipment will be installed outside California.  The project will also use previously collected HFC/CO₂ data from ET25SWE0005 as appropriate for a comparison dataset. Findings will inform program designers, contractors, and grocery operators about installation feasibility, cost, performance, and maintenance needs. The research hypothesis of this project is that R‑454C systems can deliver measurable energy and operational savings compared to older hydrofluorocarbon ("HFC") systems, while offering a more accessible and cost-effective option than CO₂ for many stores. The project will also evaluate whether these systems provide load flexibility that could support demand response and grid optimization strategies.

This project aligns with the Process Loads 2024 CalNEXT Technology Priority Map (“TPM”), specifically the Refrigeration – Commercial research area, which calls for field-verified data on emerging low-GWP refrigerants, real-world system performance, and understanding barriers to adoption. The TPM highlights the need for cost-effective refrigerant transition solutions that help California meet the California Air Resources Board (“CARB’s”) phasedown requirements while providing equitable pathways for underserved communities. By combining prior California M&V data for HFC and CO₂ systems with customer provided R-454C datasets normalized to California climate zones, the project will help fill  critical data gaps, and help utilities, policymakers, and store operators make informed decisions about how and when to adopt R‑454C as part of California’s transition to climate-friendly refrigeration. The results from this project will help guide potential incentive program design, contractor training, and future research to support cost-effective, scalable refrigerant retrofits that reduce greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions and support energy equity goals statewide.