5.5 Australian Market Data: Stores and Industrial Sites Using Natural Refrigerants
Metadata
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Title | 5.5 Australian Market Data: Stores and Industrial Sites Using Natural Refrigerants |
| Author | 미상 |
| Site | ATMOsphere |
| Published | 미상 |
| Words | ~950 |
| Language | en |
| URL | https://atmosphere.cool/chapters_report/5-5-australian-market-data-stores-and-industrial-sites-using-natural-refrigerants/ |
한국어 요약 (Korean Summary)
호주 슈퍼마켓·산업 냉장 시설의 자연냉매(트랜스크리티컬 CO2) 채택 현황(2024-12 기준) 보고서. 호주 슈퍼마켓 약 4,295개 중 330개(7.7%)가 트랜스크리티컬 CO2 시스템 사용, 산업 현장 20곳 포함 총 350건. Aldi·Coles·Woolworths 3대 대형마트가 신규점·리모델링 시 CO2 시스템 도입 정책을 공식화했으며, Woolworths는 2024-04 기준 100번째 CO2 매장 오픈(전체 매장의 11%). 산업용 저충전 암모니아 시스템도 60곳으로 집계됨. 제조사(Bitzer Australia, SCM Ref Australia)의 로컬 생산 확대와 정부 리베이트(NSW/VIC의 CO2 히트펌프 리베이트)가 채택을 뒷받침.
Original Content
Chapter 5.5
Natural Refrigerants: State of the Industry 2024
Australian and New Zealand Trends
5.5 Australian Market Data: Stores and Industrial Sites Using Natural Refrigerants
Total Addressable Market
There were an estimated 4,295 supermarkets and grocery stores in Australia as of mid-2023. Data was not gathered for convenience stores because our survey respondents only reported on transcritical CO2 installations in Australian supermarkets.
The Retail Market Today
As of December 2024, there were an estimated 330 supermarkets using transcritical CO2 systems in Australia. The market penetration of transcritical CO2 in the Australian supermarket sector is 7.7%. With 20 industrial site installations, the total number of transcritical CO2 installations in Australia was 350.
Three of Australia’s biggest supermarket operators, Aldi, Coles and Woolworths, all have policies stating a commitment to installing transcritical CO2 systems in new stores and in major retrofits when possible. Integrated designs are popular, with survey respondents reporting many of their transcritical CO2 systems also provide domestic hot water, with a smaller percentage reporting that their systems can provide space heating and cooling.
In addition to transcritical CO2 racks, survey respondents reported that smaller-format stores are using CO2 condensing units and that CO2 heat pumps are increasingly being looked at as a replacement for natural gas boilers. A small number of CO2-based waterloop systems are also in use, including at an ALDI in Melbourne. Hydrocarbon cases are in stores, although not in great numbers. The exception is ALDI, which exclusively uses R290-based freezers. Hydrocarbon chillers are also being trialed, too.
HFC/CO2 cascade systems were first installed in Australian supermarkets in 2005, with the first transcritical CO2 system for a grocery store commissioned in 2007. As of December 2024, more than 700 supermarkets were estimated to use subcritical HFC/CO2 cascade systems.
Behind the Numbers
Woolworths is one of the leading users of transcritical CO2 refrigeration in Australia’s commercial sector. In April 2024, the retailer celebrated the opening of its 100th transcritical CO2 store, with the company’s first such store opening in 2017. Woolworths began using CO2 refrigeration in 2006 when it installed its first R134a/CO2 cascade system.
As of December 2024, Woolworths confirmed to ATMOsphere that it operates approximately 1,150 stores (including convenience stores), with 125 using transcritical CO2 systems (11%), 65 of which are integrated systems (43 space heating, 22 space heating and cooling). The company also has a CO2 waterloop system in operation. Along with CO2, Woolworths has installed 269 plug-in R290 cases and employs two R290 chillers. A total of 407 stores use HFC/CO2 cascade systems (35% of stores).
Coles stated in its 2024 sustainability report that 78 of its supermarkets used natural refrigerants as of September 2024. The company also said it is trialing the reuse of waste heat from natural refrigerant-based refrigeration systems to provide space heating. In addition, Coles installed an experimental CO2 system equipped with a dew point cooler to increase efficiency at a store in South Australia in 2023.
Manufacturers are enabling the transition to transcritical CO2 through local production. Bitzer Australia entered the CO2 refrigeration systems market in 2004.
End users looking for local systems gained another option in June 2024 when SCM Ref Australia, launched a new transcritical CO2 rack designed for small- and medium-sized stores. Optional add-ons include heat recovery, air-conditioning load and ejectors for added system efficiency.
The government is also showing support for natural refrigerant-based systems. In 2024, Japanese manufacturer Itomic announced that its air-to-water CO2 heat pump was eligible for state rebates in New South Wales and Victoria when it replaced a gas boiler or electric resistance element hot water system. Automatic Heating, the heat pump’s local distributor, reported that 10 supermarkets installed the units in 2023.
The Industrial Transcritical CO2 Market Today
As of December 2024, there were an estimated 20 industrial sites using transcritical CO2 systems in Australia’s industrial refrigeration sector. One survey respondent reported that industrial transcritical CO2 systems are mostly found in smaller cold storage facilities.
Behind the Numbers
Transcritical CO2 is still finding its footing in Australia’s industrial refrigeration sector, with Inderpal Saund, Business Development Director APAC for Beijer Ref Australia, noting at ARBS 2022 that ammonia systems are providing stiff competition. Of the 20 transcritical CO2 sites, one is a warehouse operated by a food wholesaler in New South Wales, which opened in 2021. Its system has 11 compressors and a total capacity of 256kW (72.8TR), including 108kW (30.7TR) low-temperature capacity at –25°C (–13°F), and 148kW (42.1TR) medium-temperature capacity at –7°C (–19°F).
The Industrial Low-Charge Ammonia Market Today
As of December 2024, there were an estimated 60 industrial sites using low-charge ammonia systems in Australia’s industrial refrigeration sector. Survey respondents indicated that the majority of low-charge ammonia installations are for central systems.
Behind the Numbers
Scantec Refrigeration Technologies is one of the leading providers of low-charge ammonia systems in Australia, offering both central and packaged systems. Managing Director Stefan Jensen said in May 2024 that Scantec has “a full order book for the 2024–2025 financial year” for its systems. He noted that the company can roughly produce 8 to 25 systems per year, depending on project size.
GEA is also seeing increased demand for low-charge ammonia in Australia. Greg Clements, Head of Sales – Compression at the German manufacturer, said at ARBS 2024 that “low-charge ammonia is at the forefront” of industrial refrigeration trends.
Jensen said in 2021 that one of the main barriers to increased adoption is “an environment where the lowest capital cost is often installed to the detriment of energy efficiency.” He added two new roadblocks in 2024: a lack of policy direction for HFO refrigerants that degenerate into PFAS and a lack of properly trained personnel.