Danfoss to build energy-efficient “smart” supermarket
29th March 2022
DENMARK: Danfoss has begun construction of a fully functioning 1,500m2 supermarket to incorporate the latest and most energy-efficient refrigeration and heating technologies.
The Smart Store supermarket will be situated right next to Danfoss’ headquarters in Nordborg and is designed to be an example of how supermarket chains around the world can build climate-friendly and sustainable stores with the technologies that already exist today.
Danfoss has previously promoted the “smart store” concept of next generation food retail solutions at exhibitions like Euroshop, now the Danish manufacturer is bringing that vision to reality.
Scheduled for completion in the summer of 2023, the store will employ CO2 refrigeration, with the system’s waste heat being recovered and reused to provide heating for the supermarket and the local community through district energy.
Brugsen for Als and Sundeved, Denmark’s largest independent supermarket association, will rent the building from Danfoss and will install a COOP 365 discount supermarket.
Additionally, the site will serve as an Application Development Centre where Danfoss will work together with partners to co-develop new technologies and explore interfaces in the energy system surrounding energy storage.
“The origins of this project go back a long time, but the new energy-efficient Smart Store supermarket that we are starting to build today has only grown in relevance. The goal of the project is to show how easy and profitable it is to decarbonize our economy and ensure reliable and sustainable energy use,” explained Kristian Strand, president, refrigeration & A/C controls, Danfoss Climate Solutions. “The solutions we are building here today represent the core of Danfoss solutions and will showcase how we can approach zero energy use in food retail together.”
“The supermarket will be the focal point for a new part of our campus, where all buildings will be energy-efficient and meet special sustainability requirements. Our aim is to boost the green transition with concrete evidence of how far we can go with energy efficiency,” added Danfoss Climate Solutions president Jürgen Fischer. “We want to demonstrate to customers and partners how energy saving solutions work in real life.”
The service part of the building will be handled by Ohmia Retail, a Norwegian partner responsible for the operation and monitoring of all installations. The supermarket will be able to supply surplus heat to the local Nordals Fjernvarmeværk district heating plant.
The 1,500m2 COOP 365 store will occupy a 14,000m2 site that will include an OK gas station and a car wash. Danfoss will own all installations in the store, allowing continuous monitoring and optimisation of systems. It will enable Danfoss to continuously test applications, new products and include a showroom and training facility for visitors and customers.
“Our new Smart Store shows what is possible with today’s technology, such as our Alsense software. The integration of hardware and software tools into this store underscores the growing importance digitalisation has for the green transition,” said Tuuli Sarvilinna, Danfoss’ senior vice president electronic controllers and services.
Brugsen for Als and Sundeved works together with COOP, and already has a total of 13 stores in the area around Sønderborg in Denmark. Since 2015 it has consistently reduced the consumption of energy, achieving a 44% reduction in total CO2 emissions.
“Our 13 supermarkets have been modernised and we have nearly no cost for heating in the stores because the heat comes from our freon-free refrigeration systems, solar cells, and heat pumps,” said the group’s MD Lars G Andersen.
