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R744 in Commercial Refrigeration on the move |
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R744 is attracting growing attention for stationary applications by leading brands. Check out here how CO2 refrigeration is gaining foothold in supermarkets, transport refrigeration and vending machines.
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2007-08-09
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In a first of a series of articles regarding R744 in commercial refrigeration, R744.com gives you an overview of CO2 solutions in supermarkets.
Up to 60% of all energy in a supermarket is used for refrigeration. Applying refrigeration systems working with the natural refrigerant CO2 (R744) could cut this figure substantially. On top of that the additional greenhouse gas emissions due to the leakage of high global warming HFCs could be cut to zero with R744.
Acknowledging these facts and facing legal restriction on chemical refrigerants, more and more food retailers are investing in CO2 Technology. As probably the most viable solution in terms of technological feasibility and cost efficiency, R744 also satisfies the rising “green” trend among food buyers.
Global component and system suppliers including Danfoss, Linde, Embraco, Epta, Bock Compressors, Star Refrigeration or Copeland/Emerson have followed the trend, and already offer CO2 Solutions for the commercial sector. Customers testing and using R744 include the leading food retailers Aldi, Lidl, Tesco, Asda, Coop, Migros and Delhaize, to name just a few.
Scandinavia: REMA 1000 - Danfoss / COOP - Green & Cool
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Especially in Scandinavian countries, CO2 Technology is expected to become widespread as laws impose high taxes on HFCs or completely ban them from supermarkets. In 2006, the leading Danish manufacturer Danfoss helped the supermarket chain REMA 1000 to install subcritical CO2 systems to comply with upcoming legislation. Green & Cool, a Swedish manufacturer of CO2 Technology, has already supplied more than 20 refrigeration units to food retailers across the country, among them Scandinavia’s largest retail enterprise COOP.
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UK: Tesco & Epta
Since the first successful installation of a transcritical CO2 supermarket system in 2002, the global supplier Epta has provided more than 50 of such systems across Europe. The latest R744 installation, both for sub- and transcritical use, has been operating since 2006 at a store of Tesco, one of the leading British supermarket chains. Facing a rising demand from UK customers, Epta has moved to install the UK’s first totally HFC-free site in Manchester.
Germany: Linde & Aldi
So far, Linde has installed 93 CO2 systems for low-temperature applications in seven EU countries. In Germany, the company is currently testing three R744 medium-temperature systems with ALDI Süd. The food discounter, where three out of four German households buy their food, has been running the Linde installation successfully since 2006/07. Complete medium-temperature solutions are expected by 2010 latest.
Next steps
During the next days, R744.com will explore CO2 Technology in other applications such as transport refrigeration, industrial storage and vending machines. Please check regularly for updates on this issue.
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More information:
› Search for more papers for Commercial Refrigeration in our Knowledge section
› Presentations from the CO2OL Food conference, 23 May
› Presentations from the Cooling with Carbon Dioxide '07 conference, 28 March
See the second article: "Consumer goods cooled with R744"
See the third article: "CO2 cooling for drinks and foods"
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