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Refrigeration is a significant cost for some businesses. Older cold rooms and refrigeration units with inefficient refrigeration systems use more energy than those that use modern technologies in the refrigeration system. It’s possible to reduce these costs by upgrading to more efficient technology.

Eligibility

All Victorian businesses that have an older cold room, or are installing a newer cold room, are eligible to participate. Incentives are available for cold rooms:

  • where goods are stored at temperatures below seven degrees Celsius
  • operating below zero degrees Celsius (freezers).

There are three possible scenarios that are eligible for cold room incentives:

  • installing an electronic expansion valve and compatible superheat controller
  • installing an efficient refrigeration system that includes at a minimum three of the specified parts
  • installing a high efficiency refrigeration system that includes at a minimum all five of the specified parts.

All Victorian businesses with an older cool room, refrigerated display cabinet or freezer are also eligible to upgrade to more energy-efficient refrigeration fans.

Your participation is voluntary.

How to organise upgrades to cold rooms and fans

To participate, you must work with an accredited provider. Accredited providers deliver or facilitate upgrades/rebates under the VEU program.

To check if a person or business is an accredited provider, go to the Essential Services Commission’s VEU Registry of Accredited Persons and:

  • select the 'Business Name' drop-down menu
  • scroll until you see the accredited provider you are searching for.

Tips when organising an upgrade

  1. Shop around. As with any market, it's worth shopping around and working out the right fit for your needs.
  2. Ensure the suitability of the upgrade. To get a rebate, you must meet the specified requirements of the upgrade.
  3. Accredited Providers can operate freely like any other business and therefore choose what upgrades they deliver. As a result, some Accredited Providers may not currently be undertaking this activity or may only be operating in certain locations.

Remember to do your research on products. Not all products are of the same quality or suitability for all working environments.

How much rebate can you expect?

To be installed

Indicative rebate*

The refrigeration system of a cool room at a small café is retrofitted to include an electronic expansion valve and compatible superheat controller.

$780

A large, new cold room is built to store frozen foods for a distribution company. The cold room includes an efficient digital scroll compressor and speed controlled, electronically commutated fans in the condensers and evaporators.

$2,280

The refrigeration system of an existing cool room in a liquor store is retrofitted to include:

  • an electronic expansion valve and compatible superheat controller
  • technology capable of varying condensing temperature with ambient temperature
  • an efficient compressor with variable speed capacity control
  • speed controlled, electronically commutated fans in the condensers and evaporators.

$2,400

Motored fan (refrigeration).

$60

Motored fan (air-handling ventilation system).

$60

*Discount or rebate will vary – this figure is based on a certificate price of $60.

The final price will depend on several factors, including:

  • certificate price
  • type of equipment and efficiency
  • location
  • installation costs
  • administrative costs by accredited providers.

Find an accredited provider in your area

Page last updated: 30/03/23