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Project
FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND INTEGRATED
CO2 SYSTEM COOLS MAKRO STORE, PROMISING EFFICIENCY GAINS
By Eamonn Ryan
A groundbreaking project in East London marks a significant step forward in sustainable refrigeration and air-conditioning technology.
Future Green Now( FGN) consulting engineers, led by Shaun Hadfield and George Arnold, spearheaded the design and implementation of South Africa ' s first integrated system utilising CO2 as a single refrigerant source for both refrigeration and air conditioning at a Massmart Makro store. This innovative approach not only offers substantial environmental benefits with CO2 ' s negligible global warming potential but also promises significant energy savings, potentially reducing electrical consumption by 20-25 %.
FGN, which specialises in natural refrigerants with a core focus on CO₂, was well-suited to undertake this complex project. " This integrated plant, incorporating air conditioning, represents a significant and novel project for FGN as well," said Arnold.
Massmart identified East London as a region with significant growth potential, warranting the development of a new store – their first in this location. This project represents a collaborative effort between Massmart, who leases the property, and the property developer M & F Giuricich Developments. Massmart ' s decision to establish a presence in East London aligns with their broader strategy to expand their footprint across South Africa. This new, sustainably cooled store reflects Massmart ' s growth strategy and commitment to embracing innovative and environmentally conscious solutions.
" The facility incorporates an integrated refrigeration and air-conditioning system, wherein a single plant supplies CO₂ refrigerant to both refrigeration and air handling units( AHUs)," Arnold stated. This design represents a significant departure from the conventional Massmart configuration, which typically employs discrete refrigeration and chilled water air-conditioning systems. " Historically, standard Makro installations utilised independent refrigeration and chilled water-based airconditioning systems. However, this facility features a unified system where the chilled water AHUs have been replaced with direct expansion( DX) AHUs. The CO₂ refrigerant for these DX units is supplied directly from the central refrigeration plant, representing a notably unique approach."
Arnold highlighted the innovative nature of implementing such an integrated system on this magnitude. " Based on my knowledge, there is no comparable system currently operational in South Africa. It is highly likely that this represents a pioneering application at this scale and complexity. The store itself is a smaller Makro format, not the expansive footprint typically observed.
Consequently, both the refrigeration and air conditioning capacities are somewhat lower than those of a standard store. However, the integration of these systems remains a unique
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All images supplied by Future Green Now
Main freezer room with front access doors to trading floor.
RACA Journal I October 2025
“ The facility incorporates an integrated refrigeration and airconditioning system, wherein a single plant supplies CO₂ refrigerant to both refrigeration and air handling units( AHUs).”
www. refrigerationandaircon. co. za