§ Dr. WhiteheadTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what examination his Department has made of the feasibility of installing photo-voltaic cells on the roofs of large refrigerated articulated trucks in order to power mobile refrigeration units by renewable means. [84317]
82W
§ Ms Glenda JacksonMy Department is aware of the development work that has been carried out by J. Sainsburys plc in partnership with Southampton University and a consortium of manufacturers. An articulated HGV using photo-voltaic cells to power the refrigeration unit of the trailer has been in daily use for the past two years. Although such a vehicle requires expensive initial capital investment and the additional weight of the power unit results in a loss of vehicle payload, the technology has proved reliable and has the potential to be cost effective. The Department of Trade and Industry is supporting a project under its new and renewable energy programme looking at the further development of Sainsbury's photo-voltaic powered refrigeration unit.
The main benefit derived from use of this power source has been reduced noise, since an internal combustion engine is no longer required to power the refrigeration unit. Additional benefits are zero emissions from the refrigeration itself and low maintenance costs. As the technology can only be used to operate chill units, designed to operate at temperatures down to +3°C there is some loss of trailer flexibility.