Electricity spend for the UK’s cold storage facilities has more than doubled between 2021 and 2022, a new report published by the Cold Chain Federation (CCF) has found.
The Cold Chain Report 2022 has revealed that the cold storage sector’s electricity costs have grown from £560.6 million in 2021 to an estimated £1.1 billion for 2022. The report also shows that volume of UK cold storage capacity has now topped 40 million m3, increasing 10% since 2021.
According to the figures, diesel cost at full duty rates has risen from £122,280,000 in June 2021 to £322,173,878 in June 2022.
The report brings together new research with existing datasets to present the industry’s key facts and figures, including both cold storage and temperature-controlled distribution.
Amongst its other findings, the CCF notes:
- The East Midlands has the highest number of cold chain facilities (175), followed by South East England (152) and then Yorkshire and Humber (146)
- The average size of UK cold store is now 95,693 m3
- The total volume of cold storage in the UK has now topped 40 million m3
- There are 25 sites in the UK with volume greater than 300,000m3
- More than half of cold stores are more than 20 years old
A major transition underway
CCF policy director Tom Southall said that cold chain businesses are continuing to focus on the buying and contract options for fuel, electric and other supplies, and on making sure contracts with customers are sharing the increases “in the best and most realistic way possible”.
Southall added that the cold chain is “in the midst of a major transition”. He said: “Over the past three years our industry has earned new appreciation and built new relationships among politicians and policy makers, and the new Cold Chain Report will also provide data to support our work to influence decisions and ensure the cold chain industry’s voice is heard.”
