Roof-mounted solar panels will power the refrigeration units of two soon-to-be-rolled-out Birds Eye lorries.
The frozen brand’s sun-powered lorries are hitting the road – predominantly between Birds Eye’s production facility at Lowestoft and its distribution hub at Wisbech – as a result of a partnership with European logistics firm DFDS and British sustainable-powered refrigeration company Sunswap.
By adopting Sunswap’s refrigeration system, Birds Eye would eliminate about 24 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually from its supply chain, the company said.
Solar panel-powered refrigerated lorries hit UK roads for the first time in November last year. Depending on conditions, Sunswap’s trailer-top mounted solar panels can typically provide 65% to 100% of the charge needed to operate the refrigeration unit, significantly reducing reliance on grid charging. The technology also promises to reduce operating costs by 71% compared with running refrigeration on diesel.
“As the UK’s leader in quality frozen food, we have a responsibility to drive innovation throughout our supply chain,” said Shaun Smith, general manager of Birds Eye UK&IE.
“Sunswap’s proven electric technology enables us to maintain the highest standards of temperature-controlled transport while helping reduce our carbon emissions,” he added. “It’s fitting that the technology we’re now using to support the running of these trailers uses the same sun that ripens our peas to perfection in the field, keeping our products frozen at their peak as they start their journey to millions of UK homes.”
Sunswap already works with Samworth Brothers, Staples Vegetables and Cranswick, and has previously run trials with Müller Milk & Ingredients and Tesco.
The British engineering company in January announced the launch of a new manufacturing plant in Surrey to meet demand. The Leatherhead facility – which will create 75 jobs – follows a £17.3m Series B funding round for the company, which was founded in 2020.
“This collaboration with an industry food leader like Birds Eye confirms that our British-engineered and manufactured system not only matches the performance and reliability needed for temperature-critical food transport, but goes further by reducing direct emissions and helping cut operating costs,” said Michael Lowe, CEO of Sunswap.
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