Danfoss helps Sainsbury&rsquo;s and Netto to bring advanced CO2 refrigeration systems online

Sainsbury’s, the second largest chain of UK supermarkets, and Netto, one of the fastest growing UK supermarkets, collaborated closely with Danfoss in 2010-2011 to invest in state-of-the-art CO₂ refrigeration systems. The two projects demonstrate the feasibility of installing CO₂ supermarket refrigeration systems and create a blueprint for future climate-friendly installations.

Founded in 1933, the Danfoss group has become one of the leading companies in the field of CO₂ based refrigeration. The company was chosen by Sainsbury’s and Netto to facilitate the conversion of their stores to CO₂ as part of their ambition to drastically reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

With over 10 years experience in the development of CO₂ components, Danfoss considers R744 refrigeration to be the future of supermarket cooling. According to Danfoss, CO₂ refrigeration systems represent a key means by which supermarkets can comply with stricter environmental standards and reduce their carbon footprint.

Sainsbury’s commits to converting every store to CO2 refrigeration

In 2009 Sainsbury’s CEO Justin King announced the company’s commitment to switching all of its stores to CO₂ refrigeration systems by 2030, a project which is predicted will reduce the company’s carbon footprint by a third. Sainsbury’s initially identified 135 of its 900 stores for conversion by 2014, but in 2011 boosted this number to 250. The company is also hiring and re-training 200 specialist engineers to administer the project to ensure there is no impediment to the switch.

Danfoss became involved in the Sainsbury’s project at its very beginning. Initially seven pilot stores were chosen, four of which were existing stores where trading had to be maintained during the retrofit. Danfoss worked alongside 23 other suppliers to help install three different transcritical CO₂ refrigeration systems in the pilot stores. The installations took place with minimal disruption to trading, and were completed on time.

The efficiency of the CO₂ refrigeration systems are monitored by the ADAP-KOOL Danfoss solution. This comprises CO₂ tailored compressors, condensing units, controls, frequency converters and valves that optimise energy use.

In 2010 the number of Sainbury’s CO₂ stores stood at only two. Today the number has increased to 76. Sainsbury’s is not only retrofitting existing stores, but will also install CO₂ refrigeration as a standard in all new stores.

In addition to reducing the carbon footprint of its stores, it is hoped the CO₂ refrigeration systems will provide operational savings. Sainsbury’s expects to further drecrease the GHGs associated with supermarket refrigeration by reducing energy consumption thanks to the installation of new Danfoss CO₂ components.

Netto CO2 cold store one of the largest in the world

Danfoss supplied various components for the UK Netto CO₂ refrigeration system installed in a 21,500 m2 fresh meat product warehouse. To ensure optimum operation of the cold store and minimum electricity use, Danfoss supplied electronic valves, pressure transmitters and an ADAP-KOOL control and monitoring system.

Whilst Danfoss supplied components designed to work with high pressure CO₂, Vojens Køleteknik supplied the complete refrigeration system.

Previously, Netto had arleady installed Danfoss CO₂ components in its Danish warehouses, including one of the largest CO₂ refrigeration systems in the world, a fresh meat warehouse located in western Denmark.

Background

Founded in 1869, Sainsbury’s operates a total of 934 stores across the UK. The company aims to be the UK’s greenest grocer, and was the first to voluntarily commit to phasing out HFC refrigerants.

Netto is a Danish discount supermarket chain, and has around 200 stores in the UK. It was purchased from Dansk Supermarked A/S by ASDA in 2010.

Danfoss has been involved in the construction of about more than 1000 transcritical CO₂ refrigeration systems, and over 1000 refrigeration systems that combine CO₂ with another refrigerant. The company aims to position itself at the forefront of CO₂ refrigeration technology development.