A sustainability success for a supermarket
A known customer with a known challenge
This major supermarket is located east of Swansea in the UK. Here, the retailer is working hard to align with the company's overall sustainability targets which include a zero carbon goal and an aim to be carbon neutral in 2035. They themselves are sure that the latter requires good cooperation with suppliers and partners.
The large store had a natural gas boiler which was becoming increasingly expensive to operate and it contributed heavily to the store’s carbon footprint. With the impending F-gas regulations and the retailer's wider decarbonisation strategy, it was crucial to find a sustainable and future-proof heating solution.
F-gas regulations and sustainability
In late 2023, the European Council and Parliament reached a political agreement to amend and strengthen the legislation that aims to phase down fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-gases) because of their high global warming potential (GWP).
F-gases are synthetic and do not occur naturally in the atmosphere. They include hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and hydrofluoroolefins (HFOs), the most common refrigerant varieties used in various industrial applications, such as refrigeration and air conditioning. In our discussions with the customer, a "simple" exchange of the natural gas boiler to any heat pump on the market, was just not an alternative.
Learn more about the F-gas regulation here
A heat pump solution with a natural refrigerant
After fully understanding the need for the store and the market's offerings, the store transitioned to an R290 heat pump solution. Thanks to the natural refrigerant the heat pump can operate with a ultra-low GWP (0.02) while remaining a high efficiency. The solution delivers a peak heating capacity of 277kW and is equipped with advanced control methods for optimal energy use.
The solution was also designed for durability in the coastal environment. We included our ANTC accessory which first chemically pacifies the aluminium air coil fins to reduce corrosion potential, which are then polyurethane coated to add the second layer of protection. This attention to detail makes a solution that will meet the site's heating requirement for many years.
One key benefit - carbon savings equivalent to 2,000 trees (and counting)
There are four benefits that make a substantial difference in this case:
- More than a 75% reduction in the total equivalent warming impact.
- Cost savings: the new heat pump solution is approximately £2000 cheaper to operate over a six-month period, equating to just over £40/day in savings.
- Enhanced energy efficiency: the solution achieved an average coefficient of performance (COP) of 4.54 to-date.
- Sustainability impact: The carbon savings are approximately equivalent to the the annual carbon sequestration capacity of ~2,000 trees.
Learn more about our R290 solutions
Remote fine-tuning for further energy reduction
Since installation, the solution has undergone multiple optimisation cycles, all remotely managed via our Swegon INSIDE Manager supervision tool. The adjustments made have fine-tuned compressor operations and thermoregulation, which has led to additional energy savings and improved temperature stability.
There are still only estimations available, but an additional 15% reduction in annual energy use, from these optimisations alone, seems to be reasonable.
Learn more about Swegon INSIDE
Conclusion
The success at this site sets a precedent for future HVAC upgrades across the retailers portfolio as it demonstrates the viability and benefits of sustainable technology.
Looking at this solution from a global perspective, it is important to point out that the significant achievements partly build on the preconditions of this exact store - the gas boiler and the climate conditions - other prerequisites can impact on the actual numbers. However, continued monitoring and optimisation is in any case a way forward to maximise energy savings and carbon reduction across the retail sector. Having that said, a transition to R290 heat pump technology offers a number of benefits - learn more here.
Further recommended reading
Blog: The new F-gas regulation
Let us look at what F-gases are and why they are so troublesome.
Let's talk decarbonisation of commercial buildings
Over 70% of building emissions relate to heating, which is why decarbonising of commercial buildings is cruicial for meeting environmental commitments and regulations. Talk to us about how our award winning solutions can help reduce the environmental impact of your buildings. Swegon is the ideal partner to help achieve net zero and provide a better, sustainable future.