Retailer Aldi Nord and international heating-system manufacturer Viessmann are striving to offer customers fresh products and pleasant temperatures, with the help of a joint energy project presented at the EuroShop exhibition in Düsseldorf, held from 5 to 9 March.
With the sustainable energy system ESyCool Green, which Viessmann produced in close cooperation with the Essen-based discount chain, the two companies are setting new standards in the area of efficient cooling and heating using heat-pump systems.
During the first phase, ten Aldi Nord stores will be fitted with the innovative cold/warm air system.
"We are delighted that the Aldi Nord Group is using our holistic ESyCool concept to achieve more climate and environmental protection," said Dr Frank Schmidt, head of the refrigeration-systems division at Viessmann.
Christian Fleck, managing director of the Aldi regional subsidiary in Scharbeutz and head of project, said, "Part of our modernisation process is making our stores more energy-efficient and sustainable. To do this, we are making greater use of environmentally friendly and natural refrigerants.
"We want to significantly increase our in-store usage of energy generated through our photovoltaic panels and cold/warm power packs, and ensure the panels are in tune with our needs."
"Through comprehensive use of the ESyCool concept, we are helping to make retail a climate-neutral environment," added Rayk Mende, head of corporate responsibility for the Aldi Nord Group.
Cooling And Heating With Storage Effect
The biggest savings potential comes purely from the in-store refrigeration technology, which contributes to around 50% of the whole energy consumption. Significant savings are possible with ESyCool Green. It is a modular energy system that will meet the highly ecological cooling standards expected by companies, and it uses natural refrigerants.
Fossil fuels will no longer be used to heat buildings in the future. Instead, highly efficient electric-heat pumps with the natural refrigerant R290 (propane) will be used.
They are already prepared for operation with self-generated power from photovoltaic panels and use circulating brine to cool the in-store chillers and freezers, and, if required, use the warmth given off to heat the building. On especially cold days, additional warmth can very efficiently be derived from an attached ice-energy storer. In summer, the ice collected in the storage device serves as a natural refrigerant for the multideck cabinets and coldrooms.
Test Phase Successfully Passed
Viessmann Kühlsysteme GmbH had already fitted the innovative ESyCool system on behalf of Aldi Nord in a newly built store back in late 2015. In the 12-month test phase, the health and safety and energy-efficiency of the entire installation passed successfully.
In late 2016 and early 2017, another two newly built Aldi Nord stores, in Schleswig-Holstein, were fitted with the ESyCool system. A further ten Aldi Nord stores will now be fitted with the ESyCool Green system as part of the collaboration.
Sponsored content. © 2017 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
