The flagship store, spanning 1,500 sqm, is now open to the public. The store is leased to COOP 365 and is located next to the Danfoss headquarters in Nordborg. It boasts sustainable energy sources and utilizes excess heat generated by cooling cases, reducing heating costs by up to 90%. Compared to typical supermarkets with first-generation CO2 refrigeration systems and no energy efficiency solutions, the store is expected to be 50% more energy efficient. It is also projected to be 20-30% more efficient than an equivalent local store equipped with multiple energy efficiency solutions. These advanced heating and cooling technologies offer significant financial benefits, with a payback time of under three years.
This store not only serves as a functioning supermarket but also as a development center for testing new technology. Danfoss hopes that this innovative store will inspire food retailers to adopt energy-efficient practices in the face of increasing energy costs, emissions, and food losses.
Jürgen Fischer, President of Danfoss Climate Solutions, stated, “This supermarket is purpose-built for the world ahead of us; a world of more urbanization, larger populations, greater energy demands, a growing need for cooling, and efficient food storage.” He believes that Danfoss has reimagined what food retail stores could look like in the 21st century by bringing together cutting-edge technology and energy-efficient solutions into one retail site. The Smart Store supermarket is just the beginning, as it will also function as an Application Development Center, testing new technologies that Danfoss hopes will lead to more zero-emissions supermarkets worldwide.
Reducing energy consumption is an important focus for food retailers, as supermarkets consume around 3% of a nation’s electricity production in industrialized countries. Danfoss emphasizes that energy savings can be achieved with relatively low investment and good payback times. The flagship store primarily relies on solar power, with 100 kW solar panels on the roof providing green energy to support supermarket operations.
The store pays careful attention to heat capture and reuse, as excess heat is the world’s largest untapped energy source. State-of-the-art heat recovery units are installed to capture waste heat from all the refrigeration systems. Refrigeration systems account for the majority of energy consumed in supermarkets. The recovered heat is utilized to heat the store and produce domestic hot water. Any additional heat is shared with the surrounding town through a district energy network. Danfoss expects a significant reduction of up to 90% in supermarket heating costs as a result of these measures.
To further optimize energy efficiency, the store has installed doors on refrigerator and freezer cases, which can save approximately a third of energy use. LED lighting, chosen for its energy efficiency, utilizes up to 85% less electricity than incandescent bulbs. Automation and monitoring systems add an additional layer of energy savings. Smart refrigeration case control, for example, saves 8-12% of energy use at the system level.
Supermarkets can benefit from cheaper tariffs by adapting their energy consumption. By effectively utilizing the supermarket’s refrigeration system as a thermal battery, it can store or borrow cooling capacity in the freezers during times of affordable energy or plentiful solar electricity. The compressors can then be temporarily switched off during high-cost peak times until the peak passes.
The issue of refrigeration systems, energy, and the environment is currently under the spotlight. Danfoss believes that having different temperature zones within a supermarket, managed with advanced technology and digital systems, can allow for various products to be stored at suitable temperatures without compromising quality.
Preventing food loss is another critical aspect addressed by Danfoss. Timely responses to cooling unit issues are crucial in preventing food losses. The carbon footprint associated with lost or wasted food production amounts to about 3.3 billion tonnes of CO2. Danfoss employs solutions throughout the value chain to prevent food losses, such as solar-powered refrigeration units in fields in India that extend produce shelf life.
The store is also equipped with real-time monitoring technology on refrigeration systems and individual products. This technology alerts store managers to potential issues before they occur, preventing large-scale food loss. Danfoss aims to reduce lost revenue and emissions resulting from food losses.
Recognizing that retrofitting such technology can be challenging and costly for food retailers, Danfoss plans to offer a service model to scale up its energy-saving supermarket vision. This service model entails running the entire building, including the energy system, while the supermarket can focus solely on selling food. Danfoss promises to reduce energy consumption to a level lower than other supermarkets and achieve a yearly CO2 reduction. Initially targeting partners in the Nordics and Germany, Danfoss plans to expand its service model to Europe and eventually globally. The cost for supermarkets to embrace this service model will be comparable to current rents. Danfoss also provides 24/7 technical support, mostly remotely, to address the shortage of qualified heating engineers and the energy skills gap in Europe.
With the growing interest in green technology and an increasing availability of funds, Danfoss believes its service model will act as a super accelerator to drive widespread adoption of energy-saving practices in supermarkets.
