Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - SuperSmart (Expertise hub for a market uptake of energy-efficient supermarkets by awareness raising, knowledge transfer and pre-preparation of an EU Ecolabel)

Teaser

SuperSmart is an EU project to speed up the uptake of more energy-efficient refrigeration, heating and cooling solutions for Europe’s food retail sector by reducing its energy use, lowering its environmental footprint, and increasing its economic benefits.The project reaches...

Summary

SuperSmart is an EU project to speed up the uptake of more energy-efficient refrigeration, heating and cooling solutions for Europe’s food retail sector by reducing its energy use, lowering its environmental footprint, and increasing its economic benefits.

The project reaches all those that make the decisions for new technology, those offering and optimizing solutions, those setting the frameworks and those supporting the uptake of greener solutions in Europe’s food retail sector.
Supersmart helps food retailers to
• Reduce the energy use and environmental footprint
• Increase the economic benefits by saving energy, servicing and maintenance costs
• Use the best mature technology
• Comply with all regulations and environmental commitments

SuperSmart has three main objectives
• Remove non-technological barriers to efficient heating & cooling in the European food retail sector
• Raise the expertise level for energy-friendly supermarkets among technical and non-technical staff members, through promotion and training
• Support the introduction of a new EU Ecolabel for food retail stores, by developing draft criteria for such a label

Work performed

\"Lack of knowledge is one of the largest obstacles to selecting best-available refrigeration and heating technology, find suppliers and optimise the building of new and the refurbishment of existing stores.
SuperSmart have developed new training material for food retailers and technology suppliers, to raise the expertise level of all involved in delivering and deciding about HVAC&R technology. The project has given free training sessions to supermarket owners and chains, manufacturers, installers and consultants all across Europe.

The background material for the dissemination and training events have been based on SOTA technology and a survey on mapping non-technical barriers. The scope of the survey was identifying attitudes towards energy efficiency, obstacles to the adoption of state-of-the-art technology, approaches to existing regulatory instruments (F-gas Regulation and Energy Performance of Buildings Directive(EPBD). EPBD is one of EU\'s main legislative instruments promoting the improvement of the energy performance of buildings within the EU and providing a stable environment for investment decisions to be taken) and feelings towards a future EU Ecolabel. The results show an increase in the perceived obstacle in each barrier when moving from North to South. The legislative barrier is considered the most difficult to remove, together with the social one, although they are not classified as the most impeding ones. Awareness and knowledge barriers are evaluated as the easiest to remove. The social barrier is considered the one that, once removed, could have the highest positive impact; the second most positive impact would be obtained by removing organisational and awareness barriers. Financial incentives are suggested as a possibility to promote energy efficiency in the food retail sector and initial cost as a barrier. The lack of awareness of financial support to implement energy efficiency measures seems to be the most important awareness barrier, especially in South-West Europe.

The EU Ecolabel is Europe\'s leading voluntary label promoting environmental excellence which can be trusted. It helps identify products, services and facilities that have a reduced environmental impact throughout their life cycle. The criteria have been developed and agreed upon by scientists, Non-Governmental Organizations and stakeholders to create a credible and reliable way to make environmentally responsible choices. Draft criteria for a new \"\"EU Ecolabel for Food Retail Storesas has been prepared. Food retailers, as well as technology providers can benefit from the recognition effect the EU Ecolabel has, highlighting their environmental credentials while saving energy, money and other resources. A preliminary report providing background information needed for the development of a new EU Ecolabel for food retail stores have been performed. In detail, it investigates the market, technical, operational, and sustainability aspects of food retail stores, with the aim to develop a robust evidence base and prioritise key environmental and social issues. The technical report describes inter alia, the product scope and definition; a technical and environmental analysis in addition to describing an improvement potential areas.

The impact of SuperSmart is reflected by the intensive publication, dissemination and training activities obtained over the course of the project life-time by utilising the competence held by the SuperSmart partners. The R&D partners are in the forefront of the research area and highly compatible for teaching of cutting edge HFC free HVAC&R solutions for the supermarket sector. In addition, shecco and IIR are leading in marketing of climate friendly technology for the industry, also SuperSmart partners.

In total more than 300 publications in magazines, journal papers and press releases regarding energy efficient and environmentally friendly technical solutions and maintenance management for the supermarket sector has be\"

Final results

The main achievement is the awareness raising on how to build and refurbish supermarkets to be energy efficient and more environmentally friendly by adapting the most reasonable technical solutions and maintenance management. The project team experiences a growing interest for dedicated trainings within the various topics, and thus, an expectation for an increase in uptake of energy-efficient technical solutions within the supermarket seems likely. With that, reducing the environmental impact and primary energy demand to help reaching the international 2áµ’C goal in climate change mitigation. For the supermarket sector, a reduced energy use will have a direct beneficial impact on the economy.
In the timeframe of the project nearly 9.000 more CO2 transcritical supermarkets have opened in Europe, leading to a total reduction of approximately 800 GWh primary energy savings and a reduction of 4.7 Mt CO2 in the same period. Antoher 1.0 TWh potential reduction in energy consumption is estimated for the comming two year (2019-2020). The economic benefit in the same period is around 216 million euro. The econmic growth will make the European stakeholders more competitive in the future.

Website & more info

More info: http://www.supersmart-supermarket.info/.