Supermarket owners and operators are facing critical decisions as they work to address increased regulatory demands to reduce carbon emissions and reduce the energy consumption of their stores. Amid the ongoing cost-of-living crisis and grocery price inflation in the UK rising to a record high in January 2023, supermarkets now more than ever are competing to keep prices low for customers, and one key area that can help stores save is by keeping energy costs down.
As part of this, retailers are having to evaluate all aspects of their operations such as their refrigeration systems. This includes the environmental and financial impact of the refrigerant that enables those systems: OpEx (operational expenditure) and CapEx (capital expenditure).
Many refrigeration system managers believe sustainability improvements start with replacing the higher-global-warming-potential (GWP) refrigerants widely used today with lower-GWP options. While this is one important factor, certain low-GWP refrigerants on the market can also offer energy-efficiency improvements that help make an even bigger impact towards a supermarket’s sustainability goals, while supporting significant cost savings.
Hydrofluoroolefin (HFO) refrigerants allow for low direct emissions with their lower GWPs and they also enable low indirect emissions by allowing system architectures with higher energy-efficiencies.
Reducing energy consumption and operating costs, as well as avoiding downtime, are critical to a supermarket’s bottom line. Having an ‘energy efficiency first’ mindset when selecting a refrigerant can support these efforts.
An eco-efficiency approach
On average, it is estimated that supermarket fridges consume around 1% of the UK’s electricity, which is the equivalent of powering 800,000 homes. Additionally, a study backed by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs found that retail food outlets are responsible for around 3% of the UK’s total electrical energy consumption.
With climate change continuing to threaten our planet, supermarkets must be doing more to ensure they operate to the highest energy efficiency standards, but every supermarket is unique in terms of size, layout, age, and geographic location, which all play an important part in determining which refrigerant is best suited for the store. To help, Honeywell has developed a new tool for decision-making and asset management based upon the eco-efficiency concept.
The platform is vendor-agnostic and was independently validated by Cemafroid, a global consultant in cold chain, refrigeration and air conditioning. The platform incorporates a set of parameters and simulates the performance of different refrigerant options within those parameters to reveal which offers the lowest environmental impact at the lowest possible total cost of ownership (TCO) for a particular store or asset portfolio.
This will allow supermarket owners and operators to make informed decisions about which systems and refrigerants will help them reach their sustainability goals most cost-effectively.
Parameters for the calculation include the type and architecture of the refrigeration system, the system lifetime, the size of the sales area, geographical location of the store and the type of refrigerant chosen. Sensitivity considerations are also factored in such as low carbon tax, cost and carbon footprint of electricity production, system lifetime, plant leakage rate and refrigerant price fluctuations.
How one supermarket in Italy is reducing emissions and saving on cost
Recently, a new MD Discount (MD) store in San Giovanni in Persiceto, Italy, became the first supermarket in the country to use HFO-based refrigerant, Solstice L40X (R-455A). With support from their contractor ARNEG, and using the eco-efficiency approach, MD selected Solstice L40X for its projected optimal energy-efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
Solstice L40X is a ready-now, low-global-warming-potential (GWP), energy-efficient HFO-blend solution for commercial refrigeration applications such as small- and medium-size supermarkets, food service, cold rooms and freezer rooms.
Using the eco-efficiency approach, it was determined that for that store alone, Honeywell Solstice L40X is projected to support a lifetime cost savings of approximately €260,000 and 25% lower lifetime emissions compared with carbon dioxide as a refrigerant. This was key data for MD’s decision-making process.
In addition, the refrigerant has a low-GWP of 146, which allows MD to remain compliant with the European Union Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases Regulation calling on retailers to phase down the use of high-GWP refrigerants. Solstice L40X can also be installed and serviced by routine contractors. Its high critical temperature and low critical pressure characteristics make it ideal for high ambient temperatures.
These are significant improvements that will support MD in driving towards their environmental targets while improving their bottom line. This example illustrates how energy-efficiency is a critical piece for a supermarket evaluating their sustainability goals, while also contributing more broadly to decarbonisation goals.
This article and much more can be found in the March 2023 issue of ACR News:
