Described by ENTSO-E as “the most severe power outage Europe has experienced in the past twenty years,” the April 28 blackout was a stark wake-up call for the cold chain industry. The major grid failure cascaded into widespread disruption, exposing critical vulnerabilities in refrigeration infrastructure. It caused an estimated €1.6 billion in economic losses, affecting food safety, pharmaceuticals, and perishable logistics through prolonged downtime, spoilage, and supply chain interruptions. 

This event placed the resilience of refrigeration systems in the spotlight. While progress has been made in reducing GWP emissions, the blackout highlighted that performance under extreme conditions is equally vital.