SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTS
HOW SEPR IS REDEFINING ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN PROCESS COOLING
Industrial chillers are essential for product quality and safety, but account for a significant portion of a site’s total energy consumption. Chris Ferriday, business line manager, Process Cooling Solutions, Atlas Copco,
explains how Seasonal Energy Performance Ratio (SEPR) can help redefine their energy efficiency
A chiller with a higher SEPR rating typically delivers that stability more effectively, using less energy to achieve the same cooling output. For example, in food production, poor
temperature control can lead to spoilage or microbial growth. In pharmaceuticals, it can compromise the stability or efficacy of a product. By choosing equipment with a high SEPR rating, businesses can strengthen both operational resilience and product integrity.
E
nergy use in cooling systems has become a major concern for manufacturers. Rising
electricity prices, growing sustainability expectations and the UK’s Net Zero commitments mean cooling infrastructure is under closer scrutiny than ever. Industrial chillers remain essential for product quality and safety, but they can account for a significant portion of a site’s total energy consumption. To make better-informed decisions, businesses increasingly need performance data that reflects how equipment operates throughout the year. The Seasonal Energy Performance Ratio (SEPR) is emerging as a key metric that provides this clarity. SEPR measures a chiller’s efficiency across an entire year of operation, capturing the variations in load and ambient temperatures that define real-world industrial conditions. Traditional metrics such as the Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) evaluate performance at a single fixed operating point, which can be far removed from how a chiller actually behaves on the factory floor. Because cooling demand fluctuates seasonally – and production processes rarely run at a constant load – SEPR provides a more accurate indication of true energy consumption. This is particularly important given that chillers typically remain in service for around ten years. Having a metric
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that reflects actual usage patterns enables more confident long-term planning and investment.
“The
impact of choosing a high-SEPR model becomes clear when
comparing real examples. Atlas Copco’s TCS260 A HT chiller, with a SEPR of 6.03,
significantly outperforms a conventional unit rated at SEPR 5.01”
SEPR VS SEER SEPR is sometimes mistaken for SEER, the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio used in comfort cooling applications like office or residential air conditioning. While both metrics are seasonal, SEER reflects the behaviour of systems designed for comfort cooling, not the operational demands of industrial production. SEPR, by contrast, is engineered specifically for process cooling. It accounts for tighter temperature tolerances, variable production loads and the need for reliable cooling in
heavily regulated environments. Industries such as food and beverage, pharmaceuticals and
chemicals increasingly rely on SEPR to benchmark performance because
it aligns with the realities of their processes. The advantages of high-efficiency chillers extend beyond energy cost reduction. In temperature- sensitive industries, reliable and consistent cooling is fundamental to maintaining product quality and meeting regulatory requirements.
ENERGY & SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS - Winter 2025
LOOKING BEYOND THE PURCHASE PRICE Many organisations continue to prioritise upfront cost when purchasing cooling equipment. However, the majority of a chiller’s lifetime cost comes from energy consumption, along with maintenance, servicing and potential downtime. A Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) approach provides a clearer picture of long-term expenditure. Because SEPR reflects year-round energy use, it is central to accurate TCO analysis. Higher-SEPR chillers consume less electricity across their operational life, providing a direct financial benefit. With more tools now available to compare the SEPR performance of different models, businesses can make clearer, data- driven decisions when selecting equipment. The impact of choosing a high-SEPR model becomes clear when comparing real examples. For example, Atlas Copco’s TCS260 A HT chiller, with a SEPR of 6.03, significantly outperforms a conventional unit rated at SEPR 5.01. The higher-efficiency model has the potential to save 72,298 kWh of energy per year. At an average electricity cost of £0.30 per kWh, this equates to an annual saving of £18,097. Environmentally, this corresponds to a yearly reduction of 18.88
tonnes of CO2. These figures highlight the long- term value of selecting high-SEPR equipment, both financially and environmentally.
A TOOL FOR BETTER DECISION-MAKING With energy volatility, sustainability reporting and efficiency targets increasingly shaping industrial strategies, SEPR is fast becoming an indispensable metric for evaluating process cooling systems. By offering a more complete and realistic assessment of performance, it enables operators to select equipment that meets both their efficiency goals and their production demands. For manufacturers looking to reduce energy
consumption while maintaining high process cooling reliability, now is an ideal moment to reassess existing systems through the lens of SEPR. Choosing industrial chillers with higher SEPR ratings can drive meaningful long-term savings, strengthen operational resilience and support progress towards sustainability objectives.
Atlas Copco
www.atlascopco.com/en-uk
www.essmag.co.uk
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