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Dr. Dermot Cotter of Star Technical Solutions received the Kenneth Lightfoot Medal from the Institute of Refrigeration on February 12, 2026, for his research on energy use in the UK industrial refrigeration sector.

The study, co-authored with Dr. Catarina Marques, reveals that refrigeration energy use is often under-measured. It identifies opportunities to reduce compressor power by 20%-50% through minor adjustments and emphasizes that better performance measurement is crucial for achieving substantial energy savings.

The work challenges existing refrigeration design norms and highlights the importance of addressing inefficiencies to aid in reaching Net Zero targets. The £500 prize fund has been donated to support training within the sector.