Aldi to roll out heat pumps across all UK stores
6th February 2025
UK: Discount supermarket company Aldi is to roll out Vaillant heat pumps across its entire 990 UK and Ireland store network.
This is the latest in a long-running partnership between the two German-owned companies which has seen the installation of renewable energy heating solutions at seven of Aldi’s regional distribution centres, as well as its headquarters in Atherstone, Warwickshire. In 2023, this was extended to include the installation of Vaillant R290 heat pumps at all new Aldi stores. Now this has been further extended to install Vaillant’s AroTherm Plus air-source heat pumps across Aldi’s entire store estate.
“Our success working with Vaillant to support our distribution centres and UK headquarters over the past eight years, has given us the confidence to extend the relationship into a new phase. We are using Vaillant’s technical solutions, expertise, and support to further enhance the green credentials of our store estate across the UK and Ireland,” said Aldi national real estate director Richard Conway.
As part of a multi-year plan, every Aldi store is undergoing the installation of between two and five AroTherm Plus 12kW heat pump units, with the number of units required based on each store’s size.
“To be able to extend the renewable technology across Aldi’s entire store network over the next five years is a great way to demonstrate how heat pumps have a significant impact on the retail sector and its journey to net zero,” commented Vaillant’s commercial director Steve Cipriano.
The heat pump roll-out follows the technology’s positive impact following its installation at Aldi’s innovating eco-concept store, which opened in Leamington Spa two years ago.
To support its ambitious carbon reduction targets, has already installed solar panels on over 400 of its UK stores and use 100% green electricity from renewable sources. In 2023, the retailer also announce that it would be installing fridge doors as standard in its new and newly refurbished stores.
“Solution learnings in areas such as renewable heating and cooling, as well as using solar panels to power around 10% of a store’s consumption each year can then be transferred out as a standard design for our store developments in the future,” Conway explained.
“Aldi is always looking for ways to improve, and by following the decision to swap out the previously specified heat-generating fridge packs for new chiller doors it will reduce the amount of energy we consume. Under our ‘no wasted heat’ principle any heat generated from the chillers is used to heat the store – and with the introduction of heat pumps this means we use no gas for heating and cooling.”
To date, around 200 Aldi stores have upgraded to a Vaillant air source heat pump, with heat pumps being standard for any new store. The rollout started in England, and is now expanding into Scotland, Wales, and Republic of Ireland stores with a target to have the complete stores network upgraded by 2030.
The new phase of the Aldi and Vaillant relationship includes a 10-year service and support agreement with a standardised call-out arrangement in place so that Aldi has access to Vaillant’s technical expertise when required.
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