UK grocery retailer Tesco has signed an agreement to use Cosaf’s Air2O IDEC evaporative cooling technology in its superstores and distribution centres in order to reduce energy consumption by 80%.
Through the partnership, Tesco intends to get rid of all compressor-based cooling systems in a move aimed at becoming the UK’s most environmentally efficient grocery retailer by 2025.
Go deeper with GlobalData
The adoption of the new technology is expected to help the retailer reduce its capital, operational and maintenance costs, as well as enable it to comply with its internal governance and environmental pledges and reduce its dependence on direct expansion (DX) cooling.
According to Cosaf, many UK retailers use F-GAS legacy systems to cool their stores.
Tesco HVAC engineering manager Roger Oliver said: ‘’As one of the world’s largest retailers, we are committed to delivering the most efficient and healthy environments for our staff, customers and stakeholders.
“As such, we required an alternative cooling solution that wouldn’t rely on refrigerant gas, and would fit within our existing air handling units (AHU) model.”
Cosaf further noted that in addition to having operational and maintenance costs, the legacy cooling systems are inefficient and use CFC, GWP and HFC gases, which are considered harmful to the environment.
The IDEC technology employed by Cosaf is expected to eliminate stale air recycling and harmful gases, delivering fresh air for Tesco’s produce, employees and customers.
Last December, Tesco installed an Air2O system in its Henley-on-Thames superstore to conduct a trial run of the technology in a live setting.
Cosaf is specialised in providing heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems for the retail, pharmaceutical and grocery sectors.
