Transforming The Food Supply Chain With Green Solutions
Currently the production and transportation of livestock, crops and food account for around 25% of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions. This means the food processing sector can play a major role in trying to mitigate global heating by introducing more sustainable practices and green technology.
Discount supermarket chain Aldi has long been committed to minimising its impact on people and the planet. The Aldi Nord Group, which operates in Germany and several other European countries under the slogan “Good for everyone”, pursues an overarching goal of enabling sustainable consumption for all of its customers at the lowest possible price. The group is particularly focused on climate protection and aims to use the latest heating and cooling technology to help it meet the 1.5 degree target of the Paris climate protection agreement.
Its policies can be seen in action at its recently constructed logistics centre in the town of Lisi Ogon in the north of Poland. The group plans to open around 600 new stores in the country in the next five years, and to help serve that expansion, the new distribution centre is initially supplying 100 stores in the region, a figure which will eventually increase to 250. Delivery time to the existing stores has been shortened by 30%, which helps to ensure high-quality, fresh produce for customers, while also reducing transport exhaust emissions.
The 43,300 sq metres centre was constructed by developer Panattoni, with impact on the environment an overriding concern. The building proudly displays the logo of BREEAM, the world’s leading certification for sustainable buildings, having been awarded a ‘very good’ rating by the organisation. Its numerous green solutions include LED lighting and electric car charging stations, and a photovoltaic farm is under construction to help power the building.
The cold storage area of the centre covers 11,000 sq metres, and Aldi’s requirements for the cooling system were in line with its sustainability commitments. One was to use natural refrigerants, which the group has long championed in both its stores and its logistics centres. The Lisi Ogon centre is one of the largest CO₂ transcritical cooling systems in Poland.
The refrigeration system was delivered by Schiessl Polska, which has over 25 years of experience providing energy-saving and environment-friendly technical solutions.
In total, four Güntner Flat VARIO Gas Coolers, two Güntner Flat COMPACT Gas Coolers, two V-shape VARIO Gas Coolers, 38 Güntner Cubic VARIO Air Coolers and four Güntner Blast Air Coolers for shock cooling of eutectic plates were delivered for the centre. The total capacity of the cooling system is over 1,850 kW for medium temperature lines and 740 kW for low temperature lines.
“It was an extremely demanding project, where practically every item was customised to meet the individual requirements of the facility,” says Bernacki. Many of the units were very large and so had to be configured to allow easy access for maintenance. Shut-ups were added to the freezing room air coolers to improve the defrosting procedure, and fans were specially adapted.
“Güntner, as always, proved itself to be a professional and committed partner, maintaining the highest standards throughout the whole process,” Bernacki adds. “And this was complemented by the outstanding quality of the delivered devices.”
The success of the project was vividly demonstrated when the cooling system was first started up. It was a day when the outside temperature was 38C, but everything worked perfectly, with all parameters met.