ATMO Europe: Copeland’s Decentralized CO₂ Solution Cuts Auchan Supermarket Retrofit Cost by 6% Compared to Conventional CO₂ Rack

Compared to a conventional CO₂ (R744) rack, U.S. components manufacturer Copeland saved French retail group Auchan 6% in capital costs in a supermarket retrofit using a decentralized CO₂ solution, according to Fabian Gantois, Manager of Retailer Sales and End Users at the manufacturing company.

Gantois, joined by Auchan’s Technical Asset Director Jean-Baptiste Laurencon, outlined the benefits of the modular CO₂ outdoor condensing units (OCUs) when used in retrofits and new builds during a presentation at the ATMOsphere (ATMO) Europe Summit 2025. The event, organized by ATMOSphere, publisher of NaturalRefrigerants.com, was held November 24–25 in Padova, Italy.

“By eliminating the need for a machine room, CO₂ decentralized systems could cut the CAPEX of new stores by up to 10% compared to centralized racks,” Gantois said, adding that the estimate reflects savings of roughly €16,000 ($18,500) per 20m² (215ft²).

“After working with the manufacturer on a successful energy–saving refrigeration deployment in Senegal, we seized the opportunity to be the first to use Copeland’s CO₂ decentralized solution in a retrofit of a store in France,” Laurencon said. The installation occurred in June 2024 as part of a pilot test.

Retrofit details: The 2,000m² (21,500ft²) Freyming-Merlebach store previously operated with R448A racks supplying 80kW (22.7TR) of medium-temperature (MT) capacity and R404A systems delivering 20kW (5.7TR) of low-temperature (LT) capacity.

• The retrofit installed three CO₂ OCUs to meet the MT load and propane (R290) plug-in cabinets for the LT load. Copeland used the R290 units because it was still developing its LT CO₂ OCU at the time, Gantois explained.
• “In 18 months of operation, the new setup maintains the evaporation temperature within 2K [2°C/3.6°F] of the set point, while decreasing the energy consumption of the store by 8%,” Gantois said.
• It also cuts the store’s carbon emissions by 70 metric tons of CO₂e per year compared to the old refrigerants.

MT/LT/heat recovery: Copeland rolled out its full modular CO₂ OCU line for commercial applications in May, featuring scroll compressors with vapor injection technology, according to Gantois.

• The line covers MT capacities from 15 to 45kW (4.3 to 12.8TR), LT capacities – installed in booster mode with MT units – from 10 to 15kW (2.8 to 4.3TR) and heat recovery for space heating or sanitary water at 40 or 70kW (11.4 or 19.9TR) capacities.
• The units, with brushless permanent–magnet (BPM) variable speed motors, operate with sound levels of less than 35dB(A) at 10m (32.8ft), making them suitable for urban spaces with noise restrictions.
• Copeland introduced its first modular CO₂ refrigeration unit in 2023 while it was still part of Emerson Climate Technologies. Private investor Blackstone created Copeland as a standalone company in May 2023 when it acquired a majority stake.

Retailer’s next steps: Auchan operates almost 3,000 stores across a total of 12 countries, including locations in Africa and Eastern and Western Europe.

• Working within its monetary constraints, the retailer’s strategy is to ultimately switch to CO₂ refrigeration, according to Laurencon.
• The decentralized CO₂ scroll units offer a retrofit solution for Auchan’s city stores in Portugal and Spain, its supermarkets and its click-and-collect locations, he added.
• However, for its hypermarkets, the retailer seeks a hybrid approach using both centralized and decentralized CO₂ systems.

Quotable: “With this partnership, we find modularity and scalability,” Laurencon said. “Copeland’s solution is now approved for all of Auchan’s national markets.”

“By eliminating the need for a machine room, CO₂ decentralized systems could cut the CAPEX of new stores by up to 10% compared to centralized racks.”

Fabian Gantois, Manager of Retailer Sales and End Users at Copeland