Jordan’s first CO₂ cold rooms successfully commissioned in Amman
Amman, Jordan (November 25, 2025) – The Cool Up program has commissioned Jordan’s first walk-in cold rooms using the natural refrigerant CO₂ (R744) at the customs office in Amman. The Cool Up Week of Jordan and the project demonstration were inaugurated by Jordan’s Minister of Environment, H.E. Dr. Aiman A. Soleiman, and the German Ambassador, Dr. Bertram von Moltke. The installation is considered a milestone for climate-friendly refrigeration technology in the MENA region.
As part of a participatory process led by the Jordanian Ministry of Environment in close collaboration with the Cool Up Program, Jordan’s first NCAP 30 targeted measures in the areas of regulatory reforms, financing, awareness-raising, and capacity development. The plan provides a comprehensive framework to scale up energy-efficient refrigeration technologies, expand the use of natural refrigerants, and refrigeration and air conditioning sector.
“Jordan’s first NCAP is the result of close collaboration between government institutions, industry partners, and international organizations,” said Eslam Mohamed Mahdy, program manager at Cool Up. “It provides a clear roadmap for accelerating sustainable cooling solutions, strengthening national capacities, and promoting innovation and investment.”
The system was developed by the Jordanian manufacturer Abdin Industrial and, thanks to precise temperature control and high energy efficiency, offers a sustainable solution for the customs office’s food-related requirements.
The project received technical support from, among others, experts at ILK Dresden, which contributed its extensive expertise in CO₂ technologies, system design, and safety assessment. This expertise played a central role in technical quality assurance and training local partners.
“The project demonstrates that natural refrigerants are practical and immediately deployable in the region,” said Eslam Mahdy, program manager at Cool Up. The cold storage rooms serve as a real-world laboratory, providing valuable data for further applications—such as in supermarkets and logistics centers.
The demonstration is part of a series of Cool Up projects aimed at promoting climate-friendly refrigeration technologies. Another installation using propane (R290) will follow shortly in Aqaba.
Demonstration projects are a key driver of sustainable innovation.They connect supply-side technologies (“push”) with market demand (“pull”), thereby helping to transition new solutions from niche status to the mass market.
Push effects:
- Reduction of technological risks through testing under real-world conditions
- Strengthening of investments thanks to robust proofs of concept
- Support for policy, standardization, and funding programs through technical data
Pull effects:
- Visible benefits increase acceptance among policymakers, businesses, and consumers
- Functional examples build confidence in safety, efficiency, and scalability
- Successful projects stimulate market investment and procurement decisions
Why this is important for sustainable cooling:
Global demand for cooling is rising, while conventional systems contribute significantly to emissions. Despite existing sustainable solutions, high upfront costs and a lack of experience hinder widespread adoption.
How demonstration projects help:
They demonstrate in practice that new technologies are safe, reliable, efficient, and cost-effective. They reduce investment risks, support policymakers, and promote knowledge transfer. In doing so, they accelerate the adoption of sustainable cooling systems and pave the way for climate-friendly markets.
Further information:
https://www.ilkdresden.de/leistungen/forschung-und-entwicklung/projekt/default-e36a0e3565
