A new liquid nitrogen-powered engine is being introduced from an unexpected source. Sainsbury’s, the UK’s second-largest supermarket chain, has long focused on refrigeration for its products. Now, it has become the first retailer to test refrigerated deliveries using an engine powered by liquid nitrogen.
The green-energy possibilities of liquid nitrogen
The cooling-unit’s most attractive feature is its zero-emissions capability. Generally, diesel engines are used to chill refrigerated vehicles. The technology has been developed by Dearman and their partners. Sainsbury’s has been working towards a net-zero direct emissions goal by 2035 and a 2050 net-zero target for the remainder of the value chain.
The liquid nitrogen truck was first trialed back in 2016. During the three month trial, Sainsbury’s saved approximately 1.6 tonnes of CO2. Currently, they are continuing to work on widespread implementation of the liquid nitrogen cooled refrigerator trucks. They have also been rolling out trials of using CO2 itself to refrigerate and cool.
University of Washington also embraced liquid nitrogen
Liquid nitrogen engines have been in development as early as the 1990s. In 1997, the University of Washington developed their own liquid nitrogen vehicle engine prototype. Lead by Abe Hertzberg, the retired UW professor of aeronautics and astronautics at the time said that Electric Vehicles (EVs) are not the solution to green-energy engines as they bring with them as many environmental problems as gasoline.
Turning their attention away from EVs, Hertzberg and his team developed a working liquid nitrogen powered engine vehicle which not only produces zero emissions, but the manufacturing process of developing the liquid nitrogen removes pollutants from the air itself. The vehicle was named the LN200 and was powered by vaporizing cold liquid nitrogen.
EVs continue to dominate, but liquid nitrogen still holds potential
Hertzberg passed away in 2003. 20 years on from his death, EVs have taken the world by a storm and are in the lineup of nearly all major automobile companies. EVs continue to be the most developed and advanced source of alternative energy using vehicles, but liquid nitrogen possibilities are continuing to make an impact in the refrigerating industry like with Sainsbury’s.
The likelihood of liquid nitrogen engines becoming widespread with commercial vehicles however is debatable. Liquid nitrogen is expensive to cool, difficult to store, and overall produce an inefficient use of primary energy. The most likely contender for EVs at present are the possibilities of hydrogen powered engines. These are already being widely researched and implemented in countries like Japan and China.
Some experts estimate that EVs are set to become the norm on the road. Some say that EVs could make up as much as 50% of cars on the road by 2050. A major liability towards this however is the use of rare-earth metals which EVs engines are made up. This could negate the green energy benefits of EVs due to the environmental damage mining incurs, not to mention that EVs are still largely charged off of fossil fueled electricity.
A green-energy future possibly looks like one which reduces its overall sale and use of private vehicles. More walkable cities, a working world which works remotely, and larger funding spent on public transport is a more sure way to create a bigger impact on global emissions. Further, shifting focus on a society obsessed with consumerism would also make a difference.
Currently, 100 companies contribute to 71% of green house gas emissions. These companies are largely centered around the oil and fossil fuel industry. A world which moves away from fossil fuel production would make the largest impact on an environmentally conscious world..