This report deals with seven different system designs for the retail trade. The systems cover the entire range from small condensation units and plug-in units to large refrigeration systems in supermarkets.

The report addresses the following aspects: reliability, energy and environment, economy, personnel safety as well as possible barriers with regard to legislation.

The conclusion of the report is that, today, it is possible to construct all seven different types of systems. However, in connection with some of the systems it will not be possible to obtain the same high reliability as for conventional systems. However, in one or two years, reliability will be at the same level. Not all components are available as stock goods, but a high degree of reliability can be ensured by keeping the components in stock - e.g. at the supplier's.

Energy consumption was also investigated. Today, it is possible to find a solution that has corresponding or smaller energy consumption than a conventional system. However, some systems immediately have a higher energy consumption than corresponding conventional systems. Other considerations might also influence the choice of a particular system. In general, the systems with natural refrigerants have a much smaller impact on the environment than refrigeration systems with HFC.

In the course of the project, a financial analysis of the different system designs was carried out. Investment costs and life cycle costs were investigated. The analysis shows that it is cheapest to purchase a system consisting of condensation units (up to 50-100 kW), but due to the high energy consumption it was demonstrated that after two years the system is as expensive as the cheapest system – based on life cycle costs. In addition, it appears that the life cycle costs for a transcritical CO₂ system and for a CO₂ pump circulation system are lowest.

In general, personnel safety is effective for all types of systems. Some of the systems operate with a much higher pressure than what is known from conventional refrigeration systems. However, that does not mean that the systems are more dangerous, as they have been dimensioned according to standards that take the high pressure into account. In connection with hydrocarbons it appears that if the system is correctly dimensioned and if the preliminary analyses are carried out correctly, the risk connected with such system types is no larger than for systems based on HFC refrigerants. In the report an outline is given of the standards that must be fulfilled in connection with flammable refrigerants and for CO₂ and HFC refrigerants.