There’s a good reason why CO2 is the refrigerant of choice for supermarket applications: it’s future-proof whilst offering high energy efficiency and low Global Warming Potential (GWP).
ALDI SÜD came to this conclusion back in 2006 when it began switching its refrigeration systems to the environmentally friendly refrigerant.
A total of 1,350 stores have since been equipped with reciprocating compressors for transcritical CO2 applications.
Bitzer's director of refrigeration sales, Erik Bucher, presented the 100,000th CO2 compressor produced by BITZER in Schkeuditz near Leipzig to ALDI SÜD.
“We’ve maintained a long-standing partnership based on trust with ALDI SÜD,’ Bucher said.
“I can confidently call our customer a pioneer, as they are also partly responsible for the fact that installations with CO2 as a refrigerant are now one of the most common standards in the European Union (EU).”
ALDI's director of store operations management, Jens Strassburg, said the company is always on the lookout for solutions that ensure the supermarket's display cabinets and refrigeration systems operate more efficiently, reduce greenhouse gas emissions minimise its impact on the environment.
’”ALDI SÜD’s activities are shaped by long-term, sustainable thinking,” Strassburg said.
“We focus on the future even if that means we have to invest more for a certain period of time. However, energy savings ultimately serve as proof of a short amortisation period and high investment security.”
The high energy efficiency of BITZER reciprocating compressors for transcritical CO2 applications makes it possible.
Designed for operation with frequency inverter, they offer flexible, efficient and stepless capacity control.
This is particularly important when it comes to the capacity characteristic of CO2 systems: stepless capacity control can minimise suction pressure fluctuations and cycling rates, which in turn reduces energy costs and increases the life cycle. It can also boost the quality of the products requiring cooling and the cooling process.