Knowledge Model for Designing Sustainable Refrigeration Systems: Application to European Supermarkets

The increasing global demand for refrigeration underscores the necessity for the development of more sustainable systems. Despite the presence of promising environmental technologies in refrigeration, widespread adoption faces obstacles. This paper introduces a generic approach to model the multiple performances (energy, environmental, economic, social) of refrigeration systems, evaluating their adoption potential. Four configurations of supermarket refrigeration systems are simulated using realistic data, considering diverse climatic conditions and electricity mixes in various locations (France, Sweden, Spain). The overall simulation results highlight the electricity mix as the most influential factor affecting both cost and environmental impact. Furthermore, systems utilizing CO2 refrigerant exhibit promising performances irrespective of location, even under challenging conditions during heat peaks. However, the maintenance score emerges as a potential constraint for the implementation of more energy-efficient systems.