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Refrigeration of COVID-19 Vaccines: Ideal Storage Characteristics, Energy Efficiency and Environmental Impacts of Various Vaccine Options

Author

Listed:
  • Alexandre F. Santos

    (Department of Electromechanical Engineering, University of Beira Interior, 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal
    FAPRO—Professional College, Curitiba 80230-040, Brazil)

  • Pedro D. Gaspar

    (Department of Electromechanical Engineering, University of Beira Interior, 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal
    C-MAST—Centre for Mechanical and Aerospace Science and Technologies, 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal)

  • Heraldo J. L. de Souza

    (FAPRO—Professional College, Curitiba 80230-040, Brazil)

Abstract

This article considers the ideal storage conditions for multiple vaccine brands, such as Pfizer, Moderna, CoronaVac, Oxford–AstraZeneca, Janssen COVID-19 and Sputnik V. Refrigerant fluid options for each storage condition, thermal load to cool each type of vaccine and environmental impacts of refrigerants are compared. An energy simulation using the EUED (energy usage effectiveness design) index was developed. The Oxford–AstraZeneca, Janssen COVID-19 and CoronaVac vaccines show 9.34-times higher energy efficiency than Pfizer. In addition, a TEWI (total equivalent warming impact) simulation was developed that prioritizes direct environmental impacts and indirect in refrigeration. From this analysis, it is concluded that the cold storage of Oxford–AstraZeneca, Janssen COVID-19 and CoronaVac vaccines in Brazil generates 35-times less environmental impact than the Pfizer vaccine.

Suggested Citation

  • Alexandre F. Santos & Pedro D. Gaspar & Heraldo J. L. de Souza, 2021. "Refrigeration of COVID-19 Vaccines: Ideal Storage Characteristics, Energy Efficiency and Environmental Impacts of Various Vaccine Options," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-11, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:7:p:1849-:d:524956
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Virginia Gewin, 2020. "Safely conducting essential research in the face of COVID-19," Nature, Nature, vol. 580(7804), pages 549-550, April.
    2. Alexandre F. Santos & Pedro D. Gaspar & Heraldo J. L. de Souza, 2020. "New HVAC Sustainability Index—TWI (Total Water Impact)," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-11, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Klemeš, Jiří Jaromír & Jiang, Peng & Fan, Yee Van & Bokhari, Awais & Wang, Xue-Chao, 2021. "COVID-19 pandemics Stage II – Energy and environmental impacts of vaccination," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    2. Peter Kurzweil & Alfred Müller & Steffen Wahler, 2021. "The Ecological Footprint of COVID-19 mRNA Vaccines: Estimating Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Germany," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-12, July.
    3. Hervás-Zaragoza, Josep & Colmenar-Santos, Antonio & Rosales-Asensio, Enrique & Colmenar-Fernández, Lucía, 2022. "Microgrids as a mechanism for improving energy resilience during grid outages: A post COVID-19 case study for hospitals," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 199(C), pages 308-319.
    4. Apostolos G. Christopoulos & Petros Kalantonis & Ioannis Katsampoxakis & Konstantinos Vergos, 2021. "COVID-19 and the Energy Price Volatility," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-15, October.
    5. Jiang, Peng & Klemeš, Jiří Jaromír & Fan, Yee Van & Fu, Xiuju & Tan, Raymond R. & You, Siming & Foley, Aoife M., 2021. "Energy, environmental, economic and social equity (4E) pressures of COVID-19 vaccination mismanagement: A global perspective," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 235(C).

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