Techno-Economic Analysis of Transport Cooling Technologies in the Nordic and European Cold Chain

Background

The refrigerated transport sector is essential to food supply chains, pharmaceuticals, and logistics across Europe. Today, diesel-powered cooling units dominate the market. However, this technology faces increasing pressure due to:

• EU climate and energy regulations requiring sharp reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuel dependency.

• F-gas phase-down targeting refrigerants with high global warming potential.

• Urban restrictions on noise and emissions, with several cities (e.g., London, Paris, Stockholm) imposing bans or time restrictions on diesel-based refrigerated vehicles.

As a result, cold-chain logistics companies are actively exploring alternatives. Two key technology tracks have emerged: battery-electric cooling units and thermal energy storage (TES) solutions such as Iceheart AB’s phase change material (PCM) ice modules (Iceheart AB, 2025). These technologies promise lower emissions, quieter operations, and more sustainable long-term economics.

Purpose and Objectives

The purpose of this thesis is to conduct a comparative, Key Performance Indicator (KPI)- based analysis of leading transport cooling technologies to assess their competitiveness under particularly Nordic conditions. The thesis is intended for 2 students, to work together and in parallel, to submit a combined single thesis report.

The study will focus on three categories:

1. Diesel-powered cooling systems – the current industry standard.

2. Battery-electric cooling systems – emerging solutions in urban and regional logistics.

3. Iceheart thermal storage technology – an innovative solution based on reusable ice modules (2-4 °C supply temperatures).

Objectives:

• Map the three technology solution types, per available market solutions as well as research and development technologies, along with their technical and economic characteristics

• Map and define relevant key performance indicators (KPIs) including e.g. below for a comprehensive comparison of these three technology solutions

  • volumetric and mass-specific energy storage capacity (kWh/m3, kWh/kg), and charging/discharging power (kW/m3, kW/kg)

  • energy efficiency  

  • cost, e.g. capital and operational expenditure (CAPEX & OPEX), levelized cost of energy (LCOE), Payback time, Return on Investment (ROI), Total cost of ownership (TCO)

  • emissions, e.g. CO₂ /kWh, CO₂/kW, and others

  • other aspects e.g. concerning noise, payload impact, operational validity, reliability, and scalability.

• Design a mobile cold-TES solution using the PCM ice (2-4 °C supply temperatures) for a chosen Swedish case study for a chosen truck reefer, for relevant operating conditions:

  • choosing either urban distribution or long-haul transport

  • considering both summer and winter operation.

• Assess the performance of the designed mobile cold-TES solution (2-4 °C supply temperatures) considering both summer and winter operation.

• Present a comparative analysis of the three technologies along the defined KPIs and the obtained results from the own design of the mobile cold-TES

  • Use relevant tools and visualizations to present this in a comparative matrix

• Present a sustainability aspects discussion of the technologies compared, considering both pros and cons

Methodology

• Literature review of:

  • Technology and market (websites, reports, patents and like), industry reports, and scientific publications on refrigerated transport and cold-TES storage options therein.

  • KPIs for the relevant key techno-economic performance criteria on energy density, power density, energy efficiency, cost metrics, emissions and other aspects

• Case study mapping and data collection (for a chosen Swedish Reefer truck for refrigerated transport with 2-4 °C supply temperatures)

• Develop a numerical model for the techno-economic analysis of the case study system

  • You would need to construct both a system model and also a heat exchanger model, which should be combined for the full analysis

  • Various charging strategies may be required to be considered (driven by electricity prices e.g.)

• Perform a comparative analysis: develop and apply a structured KPI framework to evaluate each technology, comparing the modelling results on the specific mobile case study with cold-TES using ice versus the available diesel-powered and electrical battery-powered system options

  • Considering summer and winter operations

  • For various charging strategies

• Present a sustainability analysis overview encompassing environmental, economic and social implications of the three types of technology solutions for both pros and cons

The students will work closely together with the KTH supervisors and examiner as well as Iceheart team (i.e., the project supervision team), as well as potentially other students working on peripheral topics for Iceheart AB.

A common thesis report will be written by both students, where the individual contributions will also be specifically and clearly stated and shown.

Thesis report should be written in English, with a Swedish summary (Sammanfattning), using the KTH’s thesis template. The thesis writing should be a continuous process, discussed and iterated with the project supervision team.

Expected Results

• A structured benchmarking KPIs framework comparing diesel, battery-electric, and TES technologies for refrigerated transport.

• Numerical models of a reefer truck cold-TES (using ice as a PCM for2-4 °C supply temperatures) system concerning the TES integration in the cooling system as well as the TES heat exchange configuration

• Techno-economic analysis of the chosen case study mobile cold-TES reefer truck design for the chosen Swedish conditions (2-4 °C supply temperatures)

  • Nordic summer and winter operations

  • For various charging strategies

• Identification of strengths, weaknesses, and possibly market niches for each solution.

• A clear assessment of the conditions under which the analysed mobile cold-TES embedded reefer truck can emerge as a viable alternative in the Nordic cold transport market.

Relevance for Student

This thesis offers the student the opportunity to:

• Work in the intersection of sustainable energy, transport systems, and industrial innovation.

• Gain experience in both technical evaluation and market analysis.

• Contribute insights directly to an industrial partner (Iceheart AB) in a sector undergoing rapid and dynamic transformation.

Supervisors

Main supervisor and examiner at KTH

Supervisors at Iceheart AB

Olof Källgren – Engineer, available as supervisor (olof.kallgren@hotmail.com)

Pärlan Fritz – CEO, company contact/supervisor (parlan@iceheart.com)

Minanda Fritz – M.A., KTH mentor program (minanda@livshalsa.se)