Danfoss opens ‘future supermarket’ in Denmark

Danfoss has announced the opening of a new flagship supermarket that it expects to be about 50 per cent more energy efficient compared to a typical supermarket, with a first-generation CO₂ refrigeration system.

The new “Smart Store” in Nordborg, Denmark, will work as a functioning supermarket and a development test centre for energy efficiency technology. According to Danfoss, the supermarket runs off sustainable energy sources and reuses excess heat created by cooling cases, reducing supermarket heating costs by up to 90 per cent.

Danfoss Climate Solutions President Jürgen Fischer says Danfoss developed the new Smart Store supermarket with partners and customers to demonstrate that it is possible to build a climate friendly and super-efficient facility, using world-class heating and cooling technology.

Danfoss Climate Solutions President Jürgen Fischer says Danfoss developed the new Smart Store supermarket with partners and customers to demonstrate that it is possible to build a climate friendly and super-efficient facility, using world-class heating and cooling technology.

“Our new ‘Smart Store’ proves that the future is now,” says Fischer. “This supermarket is purpose-built for the world ahead of us; a world of more urbanisation, larger populations, greater energy demands, a growing need for cooling, and efficient food storage.”

While supermarkets and retail food stores are an integral part of communities around the world, they are also big energy consumers, Danfoss says.

“The average profit margin for a large food retailer is just 1.7 per cent, which puts every operating cost under scrutiny. Energy is an area where significant savings can be achieved with relatively low investment and good payback times. In fact, the US EPA estimates that one dollar in energy savings is equivalent to increasing sales by $59.^”

According to Danfoss, the range of new solutions in the “Smart Store” demonstrate the significant savings that can be achieved in supermarkets, with a typical payback time of three to four years.

“By using world-class heating and cooling technology, the new supermarket will waste less energy and reduce food waste,” the company says.

“Solar power is the supermarket’s primary energy source, with 100kW solar panels on the building’s roof providing green energy to support the supermarket operations.”

Danfoss says heat capture and reuse is also key to the energy efficiency of the supermarket, with up to 90 per cent reduction in supermarket heating costs expected.

“Excess heat is the world’s largest untapped source of energy,” says the company. “The ‘Smart Store’ is fitted with state-of-the-art heat recovery units, designed to recover the waste heat from all the refrigeration systems. The recovered heat is reused to heat up the store and produce domestic hot water, with any additional heat shared with residents of the surrounding town through a district energy network.”

Other initiatives such as installing doors on refrigerator and freezer cases will save around a third on energy use, while the choice of LED lighting uses up to 85 per cent less electricity than incandescent bulbs, according to the company. Automation and monitoring of the ‘Smart Store’ adds another layer of energy saving.

“Danfoss has reimagined what food retail stores could look like in the 21st century,” says Fischer. “For the first time, all of Danfoss’ most cutting-edge technology and energy efficient food retail solutions are being brought together into one retail site.

“The new ‘Smart Store’ supermarket is only the beginning … It will serve as an application development centre and a ‘live’ testing site for new technologies, which we hope will inspire food retailers around the world to move towards zero emissions supermarkets – while making economic sense.”

Read the company profile of Danfoss at HVAC&R Search.