Decarbonizing the Cold Chain: Long-Haul Refrigerated Deliveries with On-Board Photovoltaic Energy Integration

Decarbonizing the cold chain is a priority for sustainability due to increasing demand chilled/frozen food and pharmaceutics. Refrigerated transport requires additional fuel refrigeration other than traction. Photovoltaic panels on vehicle rooftop, battery bank, power conversion system can replace diesel engine driving refrigerated unit. In long-haul deliveries, vehicles cross zones with different climate conditions, which affect both requirements photovoltaic energy conversion. Mandatory driver’s breaks rest also delivery timing consumption. A multiperiod, multizone optimization model developed size onboard system, based features of tour. The applied palletized chilled from North-Eastern Italy, showing payback time around four years, drop under two years expected reduction component costs. Economic environmental performances be increased by allowing products on-board during return journey, leading more savings. Photovoltaic-integrated frozen not convenient at current market Different conditions are tested, ability act as decision support tool foster renewable penetration into chain.