Waitrose opts for CO2 refrigeration systems at new fulfilment centre

25 April 2021

Waitrose has commissioned a CO2 refrigeration system as part of a full suite of systems to operator Wincanton, at its new customer fulfilment centre in Greenford.

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DD Cooling was selected as the refrigeration engineering contractor for the project and was also commissioned to build the insulated cold store structures. This company brought in Isentra to supply three dual temperature transcritical CO2 systems and to provide full system design and commissioning support.

Waitrose needed a highly resilient refrigeration requirement, so each CO2 system was fitted with Isentra’s Full Resilience option, which includes back-up controls and standby pressure regulators for the systems, which have a combined heat rejection of circa 800 kW.

Commenting on the project, Daniel Clar, managing director at Isentra, said: “Waitrose has been employing natural refrigerants to minimise its environmental impact for many years and the Greenford project extends its existing CO2 portfolio. The application of CO2 refrigeration is rapidly becoming the leading cooling technology across a variety of applications in a wide number of sectors.

“CO2 systems deliver exceptional cooling performance at low cost, while also being attractive from a sustainability perspective, with an ultra-low global warming potential. CO2 refrigeration is also a future proof refrigeration solution that will not be phased out, nor is it subject to costly management schemes or taxation.”

Dave Dobson from DD Cooling said: “Isentra has been a key partner on the project, supplying not only the CO2 refrigeration plant, but providing comprehensive system design, coordination and commissioning.

“We believe the futureproof CO2 systems installed at Greenford will deliver a highly resilient low energy refrigeration solution, and so we are pleased that Waitrose is investing in this planet-friendly technology for such a major and high-profile installation.”