Cold Link Africa March | April 2024 | Page 18

FEATURE

INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN new smart store supermarket with partners and customers to demonstrate that it is possible to build a climate friendly and superefficient facility , using world-class heating and cooling technology .”

While supermarkets and retail food stores are an integral part of communities around the world , they are also big energy consumers . The average profit margin for a large food retailer is just 1.7 %, which puts every operating cost under scrutiny . Energy is an area where significant savings can be achieved with relatively low investment and good payback times . In fact , the US EPA estimates that one US dollar in energy savings is equivalent to increasing sales by USD59 .

The range of new solutions in the smart store demonstrates the significant savings that can be achieved in supermarkets , with a typical payback time of three to four years . Roy Naidoo , Danfoss Climate Solutions , sales director at Sub-Saharan Africa mentioned that : “ Due to the high importance of energy saving in South Africa and other African countries , we have noticed a trend towards adopting smart store solutions . Customers require real-time monitoring and management of their stores , particularly to regulate and manage their energy consumption . By having a physical concept , we can demonstrate to the market what we can offer .”

Solar power is the supermarket ’ s primary energy source with 100kW solar panels on the building ’ s roof providing green energy to support the supermarket operations . Heat capture and reuse is also key to the energy efficiency of the supermarket with up to 90 % reduction in supermarket heating costs expected . Excess heat is the world ’ s largest untapped source of energy . The smart store is fitted with state-of-the-art heat recovery units , designed to recover the waste heat from all the refrigeration systems . The recovered heat is reused to heat up the store and produce domestic hot water , with any additional heat shared with residents of the surrounding town through a district energy network .

Other initiatives such as installing doors on refrigerator and freezer cases will save around a third on energy use , while the choice of LED lighting uses up to 85 % less electricity than incandescent bulbs .

Jürgen Fischer added : “ Danfoss has reimagined what food retail stores could look like in the 21st century . For the first time , all of Danfoss ’ most cutting-edge technology and energy efficient food retail solutions are being brought together into one retail site . But the new smart store supermarket is only the beginning . Because it will also serve as an application development centre , a ‘ live ’ testing site for new technologies , which we hope will inspire food retailers around the world to move towards zero emissions supermarkets – while making economic sense .” CLA

Cold Link Africa