Refrigerant and system selection
| System | Best size range | Efficiency | Considerations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ammonia (NH3) industrial | > 500 kW | Highest | Toxicity, machine room regulations, skilled operators |
| CO2 transcritical | 150 kW – 1.5 MW | High in cool climates | High pressure components, growing service base |
| NH3/CO2 cascade | > 800 kW | Very high for freezing | Complex, excellent for -30 °C and below |
| HFO / low-GWP synthetic | 50 – 600 kW | Moderate | Simplest to service, watch future regulation |
| Glycol secondary loops | Any | Moderate | Reduces refrigerant charge, adds pumping energy |
Refrigerant choice is a twenty-year decision constrained by regulation, local service capability and insurance. In markets without ammonia-qualified technicians, the theoretically most efficient system is often the wrong one.
Capex bands and energy expectations
| Facility | Capacity | Indicative capex | Energy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chilled distribution centre | 5,000 pallets | $6M – $12M | 25–40 kWh/pallet/month |
| Frozen storage (-25 °C) | 10,000 pallets | $14M – $26M | 45–75 kWh/pallet/month |
| Blast freezing tunnel | 20 t/day | $1.5M – $4M | Peak load driver |
| Automated high-bay cold store | 20,000 pallets | $28M – $55M | Lowest per pallet |
Specification points buyers miss
- Floor heating under freezer slabs to prevent frost heave
- Vapour barrier continuity and panel joint detailing
- Dock seals, air curtains and airlock strategy — the largest infiltration load
- Defrost strategy and its energy penalty
- Standby capacity: N+1 on compressors for critical inventory
- Backup power sizing for the refrigeration load, not just lighting
- Temperature mapping and validation for regulated products
- Refrigerant leak detection, alarms and machine room ventilation
Questions & answers
Frequently asked questions
How much does cold storage cost per pallet position?
Roughly $1,200–$2,600 per pallet position for conventional chilled or frozen storage including refrigeration, and $1,800–$3,200 for automated high-bay facilities, excluding land.
Ammonia or CO2 for a new cold store?
Ammonia remains the efficiency benchmark above 500 kW where qualified technicians and machine-room compliance are available. CO2 transcritical is attractive in cooler climates and where ammonia regulation is restrictive.
What is the biggest energy driver in a cold store?
Infiltration through doors and docks, followed by insulation performance and defrost strategy. Operational discipline at the dock frequently outperforms equipment upgrades.
Is cold chain infrastructure financeable?
Yes, and it is a priority sector for many development banks because of food-loss reduction. Energy-efficient designs can also access green credit lines at preferential pricing.
Industrial financing
Financing routes for sector guides
Financing is scoped alongside the RFQ, not after supplier selection — the funding route changes the optimal supplier, currency, incoterms and delivery schedule. Global B2B Group never lends, never takes a success fee from buyers and is not tied to any institution. Below are the nine routes we actively structure against.
Export Credit Agencies
State-backed cover (Euler Hermes, SACE, EKF, UKEF, Atradius, K-Sure) on equipment exported from the supplier's country, usually combined with a commercial bank loan.
- Tenor
- 5 – 12 years
- Ticket
- $2M – $250M
Best for: Imported production lines and turnkey plants from EU, UK, Korea or Japan
- Eligible country content
- Down payment 15%
- Bankable feasibility study
Development Banks & DFIs
IFC, EBRD, AfDB, ADB, IDB, FMO, Proparco and bilateral development windows funding industrial capex with concessional pricing and long grace periods.
- Tenor
- 7 – 15 years
- Ticket
- $5M – $200M
Best for: Food security, cold chain, energy efficiency and job-creating projects in emerging markets
- ESG / E&S compliance
- Audited financials
- Development impact case
Commercial Lending
Bank term debt and capex facilities secured against project cash flow, equipment and corporate balance sheet, in local or hard currency.
- Tenor
- 3 – 8 years
- Ticket
- $500K – $80M
Best for: Established operators expanding proven capacity
- DSCR ≥ 1.3x
- Security package
- Sponsor equity 25–35%
Equipment Leasing
Operating and finance leases that keep machinery off the balance sheet, preserve working capital and align payments with production ramp-up.
- Tenor
- 2 – 7 years
- Ticket
- $100K – $25M
Best for: Single machines, packaging lines, handling fleets and phased upgrades
- Asset resale value
- Insurance
- Deposit 10–20%
Vendor Financing
Supplier-supported deferred payment and instalment structures negotiated inside the RFQ, before supplier selection narrows your leverage.
- Tenor
- 1 – 5 years
- Ticket
- $250K – $30M
Best for: Buyers who want a single contractual counterparty for supply and payment terms
- Supplier credit appetite
- Bank guarantee or LC
- Milestone schedule
Project Finance
Limited-recourse SPV structures where the facility's own cash flow repays the debt, with independent technical and market due diligence.
- Tenor
- 8 – 18 years
- Ticket
- $20M – $500M
Best for: Greenfield plants, integrated processing complexes and utility-scale infrastructure
- Offtake agreements
- EPC contract
- Independent engineer report
Private Equity
Growth and buy-out capital from industrial and agri-focused funds, typically alongside a debt tranche to lower the blended cost of capital.
- Tenor
- 4 – 7 year hold
- Ticket
- $5M – $150M
Best for: Platform build-outs, consolidation and cross-border expansion
- Governance standards
- Growth thesis
- Exit path
Investment Partners
Strategic co-investors, family offices and regional sponsors who bring local licensing, land, offtake or distribution alongside capital.
- Tenor
- Negotiated
- Ticket
- $1M – $50M
Best for: Projects needing local partnership or market access as much as funding
- Shareholder agreement
- Clear capital structure
- Aligned exit
Government Programmes
Industrial localisation incentives, capex grants, interest subsidies, free-zone benefits and agri-processing schemes that reduce effective project cost.
- Tenor
- Programme specific
- Ticket
- Grants 5% – 40% of capex
Best for: Projects in priority sectors, special economic zones or import-substitution plans
- Local registration
- Job creation targets
- Application windows
How financing is structured
1. Scope & budget
Technical scope and realistic capex band are fixed first — lenders price the project, not the wish list.
2. Route selection
We map which of the nine routes actually fit your country, sector, ticket size and sponsor profile.
3. Bankable package
Feasibility, offtake, DSCR model and equipment quotations assembled into a lender-ready file.
4. Introductions
Independent introductions to ECAs, DFIs, banks, lessors and equity partners — no exclusivity, no success fee to buyers.
Get a funding route assessment
Human-led, supplier-neutral and 100% free for buyers. We return the routes that realistically fit your project, with indicative tenors, equity requirements and documentation checklists.
Next steps
Put this into practice
Request machinery quotes
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