Italy’s DEM Supermarkets Installing CO₂ Refrigeration Systems to Cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Says Arneg

As part of its goal to cut greenhouse gas emissions, Italy’s DEM Supermarkets is installing CO₂ (R744) refrigeration systems in all of its new stores, Italian manufacturer Arneg told NaturalRefrigerants.com.

DEM, founded in 2007, operates 27 sales outlets in the Lazio and Abruzzo regions. Recently, Arneg installed CO₂ systems in three new DEM stores in the cities of Grottaferrata, San Cesareo and Scurcola Marsicana. The first two stores are located near Rome, while the Scurcola Marsicana location is around 100km (62mi) east of Rome.

“Based solely on the GWP of the upfront refrigerant charge, the three stores will avoid about 277 metric tons of CO₂e emissions, compared to R448A,” Arneg said, adding that the CO₂ refrigeration systems use 15% less energy than equivalent HFC systems.

Installation details: At each store, a CO₂ rack supplies refrigeration to display cabinets, with inverters on the boosters providing intelligent regulation and gas coolers maximizing efficiency. Recovered heat is used to produce domestic hot water and saves 25kWh of energy per day per store, according to Arneg.

• The CO₂ system at the 1,552m² (16,706ft²) Grottaferrata store provides 300kW (85.3TR) of cooling capacity in 41°C (105.8°F) ambient conditions.
• The refrigeration system at the 2,228m² (23,982ft²) San Cesareo store provides 380kW (108.1TR) of cooling capacity in 40°C (104°F) ambient conditions.
• The system at the 1,652m² (17,782ft²) Scurcola Marsicana store provides 300kW of cooling capacity in 41°C ambient conditions.

Ongoing partnership: These three stores are not Arneg’s first collaboration with DEM, nor will they be the last. The two companies are currently working on other natural refrigerant projects.

• Arneg reviews and optimizes store layouts designed by DEM, according to Marco De Sanctis, CEO of DEM Supermarkets.
• “Our shared values, including a determination to do well, have enabled our company and Arneg to build a consolidated relationship over the years,” said De Sanctis.

Quotable: “Arneg’s natural refrigerant solutions are adaptable to every market format,” the company said. “ Our range of racks goes from small retail with the Globo series to large supermarkets and logistic distribution centers with the Booster series.”

“Based solely on the GWP of the upfront refrigerant charge, the three stores will avoid about 277 metric tons of CO₂e emissions, compared to R448A.”

Arneg