Müller Milk & Ingredients, a leading food manufacturing company in the UK, is implementing innovative technologies to reduce the carbon footprint of its HGV fleet. The company, known for its branded and private label fresh milk, cream, butter, milk drinks, and ingredients products, is conducting trials to explore alternative ways of powering its refrigerated HGV trailers by utilizing solar panels and kinetic energy instead of diesel engines.
In partnership with Sunswap, Müller has successfully tested the use of battery and solar-powered refrigerated trailers for delivering fresh milk. These trailers rely solely on free clean energy collected by the solar panels, eliminating the need for any diesel consumption.
In collaboration with Carrier Transicold, the company is also piloting a refrigerated trailer system powered by kinetic energy. The Carrier Transicold Vector eCool converts energy generated by the trailer axle and brakes into electricity, which is stored in a battery pack to power the refrigeration unit.
By prioritizing supply chain resilience and carbon reduction, Müller aims to determine if renewable energy solutions with a lower carbon footprint can be implemented without compromising the quality and service levels it is renowned for, which achieved an impressive 99% in 2023.
The implementation of the solar and battery-powered Sunswap system per trailer could potentially save 3,700 liters of diesel and reduce carbon emissions by 9 tonnes annually. Similarly, Carrier’s Vector eCool system has the potential to completely eliminate carbon emissions associated with traditional refrigeration units that operate using an auxiliary engine.
Upon completing the trials, Müller will assess the results and consider the possibility of further testing or implementing these energy-saving solutions across its network.
In addition to these trials, the company has also experimented with fully-electric shunt vehicles at its Manchester dairy facility. Considering the success of this trial, Müller is contemplating the complete rollout of electric shunt vehicles at the site. Such a move would save an estimated 3,700 liters of diesel and reduce carbon emissions by 9 tonnes per vehicle annually.
Moreover, Müller has implemented enhanced driver training and higher capacity vehicles to achieve a further reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
Dan Hamby, Head of Distribution at Müller Milk & Ingredients, emphasized the importance of finding sustainable and scalable solutions to meet customer expectations while reducing the company’s carbon footprint. With a focus on innovation, Müller is uniquely positioned to work closely with its customers and supply chain partners to achieve a better dairy future.
Michael Lowe, CEO of Sunswap, expressed his enthusiasm for helping forward-thinking companies like Müller decarbonize their supply chains and lower energy costs. Sunswap’s battery and solar-powered refrigeration system has undergone successful trials and is set to enter production soon.
Scott Dargan, Managing Director UK & Northern Europe at Carrier Transicold, highlighted the company’s satisfaction in seeing Müller join the list of businesses leveraging the sustainability benefits of the Vector eCool system. As pioneers in decarbonizing the cold chain, Carrier Transicold looks forward to collaborating closely with the Müller team to maximize the advantages offered by the eCool system.
