How supermarkets can offer green energy with no additional cost
Engineering company, Danfoss and SMA Solar Technology AG (SMA) have launched green energy solutions to a supermarket in the Western Cape, South Africa.
According to these companies, supermarkets can be excellent providers of these becoming so-called ‘prosumers’ by producing their own solar energy, incorporating an intelligent energy management and using the huge untapped excess capacity of their refrigeration systems.
They say every refrigeration system in local supermarkets is like a small power station, which is has to meet set legal standards, whatever the weather outside. The potential unused capacity can then be used as thermal energy storage.
“The unused compressor capacity can be turned into an opportunity for supermarket owners and the community’s energy system,” said Jürgen Fischer, President of Danfoss Cooling. “Looking at the big picture, Danfoss has the technology to unlock this capacity to integrate supermarkets into the energy system.”
Fischer added: “In that way, supermarkets do not only provide green energy, they can also reduce the carbon footprint of the store and enable it to reduce operating expenses. A win-win for climate and business.”
Jochen Schneider, general manager of SMA subsidiary coneva GmbH, explained that the store – the Aktiv & Irma in Stellenbosch – will be controlled by combining SMA’s energy management platform ennexOS with the Danfoss smart supermarket solutions, enabling the store (located in Stellenbosch) to optimise its energy use according to factors such as energy price fluctuations, external temperature, and grid demand.
Schneider added that this platform is focused on supplying energy services and solutions such as energy monitoring, efficiency and management.
Marco Frerichs, managing director and owner of Aktiv & Irma, said: “SMA and Danfoss provide the solutions, that represent a leap forward in the food retail industry. Surplus energy will be made available through two highly modern car charging stations, so that customers can charge their electric vehicles while they shop green goods.”
