Team Henderson recently participated in the 2024 Energy & Store Development Conference, hosted by FMI (Food Industry Association), in Baltimore, Md. The conference brought together a diverse group of professionals, including retailers, grocers, owners, equipment manufacturers, component suppliers, and design consultants to share insights and drive progress. This year’s event provided a platform for attendees to engage in meaningful discussions about the latest trends and innovations across the industry. From educational sessions to networking opportunities here are the key takeaways from this year’s conference.

Adapting to New Refrigeration Regulations

One of the most pressing topics in the industry right now is the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act (AIM), particularly the “HFC Management Rule – Subsection h.” During the conference, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its final ruling, which aims to reduce emissions from legacy systems that utilize high Global Warming Potential (GWP) refrigerants. This regulation highlights the importance of controlling refrigerant use, and in some cases, requires the installation of automatic leak detection systems.

State regulations were also discussed, including the current rules in California and Washington, as well as the pending legislation in New York that is expected to become the stringent in the nation. Concerns were raised about the industry’s readiness to comply with these regulations, especially in these areas:

• Product Availability: Ensuring that necessary technologies are accessible in the marketplace.
• Technician Shortage: A lack of qualified technicians in new technologies remains a significant challenge.

While low GWP A2L refrigerants, which are mildly flammable, have mostly cleared regulatory challenges, they still present unique design obstacles not encountered with traditional A1 (nonflammable) refrigerants. Attendees expressed concerns about local jurisdictions adopting the latest model codes and how that could complicate the transition to newer refrigerants.

Most end users appeared committed to utilizing natural refrigerants in new construction projects. However, retrofitting existing systems to comply with the phasedown requirements for high GWP refrigerants remains a challenge. Some companies are opting to convert existing facilities to use all-natural refrigerants, such as CO₂ (R744), while others are implementing secondary systems to reduce reliance on existing high GWP systems. Many are also waiting to see how A2L refrigerants will evolve.

Artificial Intelligence’s role to Address Industry Challenges

The potential use of artificial intelligence emerged as a recurring theme throughout the conference with industry leaders highlighting several areas where artificial intelligence (AI) could help tackle pressing challenges:

• Technician Shortage: AI could streamline training and operational processes, enabling technicians to become proficient faster.
• Product Loss Due to Equipment Downtime: Predictive maintenance powered by AI can reduce downtime and minimize losses.
• Customer Experience: AI can enhance customer interactions through personalized responses and efficient operations.
• Energy Efficiency: AI systems can optimize energy use in real-time, leading to significant cost savings.
• Loss Prevention: AI-driven analytics can identify patterns to help prevent losses due to theft or inefficiencies.

The consensus was clear: embracing AI technologies is not just an advantage, but essential for staying competitive in a rapidly evolving market.

Building and Maintaining Sustainable Supermarkets

Sustainability was another focal point of the conference, with discussions emphasizing the importance of using energy efficiently in supermarket operations. Henderson Engineers and Copeland presented our joint whitepaper, “Optimizing Operational Carbon: Reclaiming Heat from Refrigeration Systems for Space Heating,” where we shared insights on reducing carbon emissions through innovative heat recovery solutions. The findings in which revealed that optimizing heat reclamation, when paired with CO₂ as a refrigerant, could reduce scope 1, 2, and 3 carbon emissions by up to 67%. This innovative approach underscores the potential for supermarkets to significantly lower their carbon footprints while improving operational efficiency.

Path Forward

The FMI Energy & Store Development Conference served as an essential forum for industry leaders to explore regulatory practices, the future of refrigeration, the evolving role of AI, and the tactics available to advance sustainability in supermarket operations. As the industry navigates through these challenges and opportunities, collaboration and innovation will be essential for progress.