Any successful move towards a net zero future requires the decarbonisation of heat within commercial sectors, including the retail space.
Vaillant has been supporting Aldi, one of the UK’s largest supermarket chains, with its sustainability ambitions since 2016. This long running and successful partnership continues to evolve, as the two companies embark on the large-scale roll out of a heating and cooling solution across the Aldi UK & Ireland store network – using Vaillant’s aroTHERM plus air source heat pump.
Over the past decade, Vaillant and Aldi have established a strong relationship beginning with the installation of renewable energy heating solutions at seven of the chain’s large regional distribution centres, as well as its headquarters in Atherstone, Warwickshire. Now, the collaboration is moving into a new phase with its stores.
Richard Conway, National Real Estate Director for Aldi UK comments: “Aldi is a forward-thinking supermarket business, and we continue to look at ways to improve efficiencies, whilst being mindful of our important sustainability targets. This means continuing to examine how we can reduce our environmental impact across our activities.
Our success working with Vaillant to support our distribution centres and UK headquarters over the past eight years, has given us the confidence to extend the relationship into a new phase. We are using Vaillant’s technical solutions, expertise, and support to further enhance the green credentials of our store estate across the UK & Ireland.”
Vaillant’s aroTHERM plus air source heat pump is central to the strategic plan to upgrade each store’s sustainability performance.
As part of a multi-year plan, every Aldi store is undergoing the installation of between two and five aroTHERM plus 12kW heat pump units with the number of units required based on each store’s size.
Steve Cipriano, Vaillant’s Commercial Director, explains: “The aroTHERM plus air source heat pump is the latest technology innovation that can help meet the low carbon challenge facing commercial businesses. To be able to extend the renewable technology across Aldi’s entire store network over the next five years is a great way to demonstrate how heat pumps have a significant impact on the retail sector and its journey to net zero.”
The strategic decision to roll out the aroTHERM plus solution is as a result of the technology’s positive impact following its installation at Aldi’s innovating eco-concept store, which opened in Leamington Spa two years ago.
Testing the concept
Richard Conway explains: “Aldi UK & Ireland have ambitious carbon reduction targets, validated by the Science Based Targets initiative. To help us achieve them, we have solar panels on over 400 of our UK stores and use 100% green electricity from renewable sources. But to help move our sustainability understanding on, we knew that the ‘eco-concept’ store model would be a significant step towards exploring how to best use sustainable technologies within a real-life commercial setting.
“Solution learnings in areas such as renewable heating and cooling, as well as using solar panels to power around 10% of a store’s consumption each year can then be transferred out as a standard design for our store developments in the future. And the work we have undertaken with Vaillant at the first eco-concept store has already opened exciting possibilities.”
Heating and cooling sustainably
The aroTHERM plus solution has delivered sustainability benefits for both the heating and cooling requirements in store, essential in supermarkets where commercial chilling equipment contributes greatly to overall carbon emissions.
Richard Conway says: “To help reach its objective of reducing energy consumption, in recent years, Aldi has invested in switching to chiller doors in both new and refurbished stores.
“As a low carbon option, the decision to specify Vaillant’s aroTHERM plus solution was reinforced because of the presence of a natural refrigerant.”
Developed by Vaillant in 2020 as a new generation air source heat pump that uses the hydroflurocarbon (HFC)-free refrigerant, R290 and has a global warming potential of just three, allows the aroTHERM plus solution to achieve a 60% reduction in refrigerant charge, resulting in a carbon footprint of just 0.83kg*. This equates to a lifetime impact equivalent of a 15km car journey.
Richard Conway continues: “It is business critical for the low carbon operation of Aldi stores that they have access to renewable heating and cooling technologies. The fact that the aroTHERM plus uses R290 means it further underpins our ongoing commitment to drive a carbon neutral agenda, whilst at the same time delivering an operationally efficient heating and cooling solution that stores require.
“Aldi is always looking for ways to improve, and by following the decision to swap out the previously specified heat-generating fridge packs for new chiller doors it will reduce the amount of energy we consume. Under our ‘no wasted heat’ principle any heat generated from the chillers is used to heat the store – and with the introduction of heat pumps this means we use no gas for heating and cooling.”
“The aroTHERM plus was first used in our eco-concept store, with some great results. We are now focused on extending its installation to the wider store network in the coming years.”
To date, 226 Aldi stores have upgraded to a Vaillant air source heat pump, with heat pumps being standard for any new store. The rollout started in England, and is now expanding into Scotland, Wales and Republic of Ireland stores with a target to have the complete stores network upgraded by 2030.
Manufacturer service and support
The new phase of the Aldi and Vaillant relationship includes a 10-year service and support agreement with a standardised call-out arrangement in place so that Aldi has access to Vaillant’s technical expertise when required.
This is something Richard Conway values. He said: “In addition to the low carbon technology benefits the aroTHERM plus air source heat pump solution is delivering, we also have the confidence of knowing that the long-term service agreement with Vaillant means all our stores are supported going forward. Such technical support is an essential element of the holistic backing we enjoy from Vaillant, which includes premium and quality-led components and a full system offering.”
Steve Cipriano adds: “We have nurtured the relationship with Aldi, from initial concept right through to full system design and aftersales support. The service agreement we have in place not only means that Vaillant expertise is readily available for the business but also ensures there is a clear line of communication for Aldi across the UK and Republic of Ireland.”
From eco-concept store to everyday reality in a busy retail space, the progressive installation of Vaillant’s aroTHERM plus air source heat pumps as a proven, and sustainable renewable heating and cooling solution is delivering tangible results for Aldi’s large scale store network.
Richard Conway concludes: “Aldi’s journey to a low carbon future is being ably supported by the renewable heating and cooling technology, technical expertise and innovative thinking provided by Vaillant. Our decade-long partnership is set to go from strength to strength and we are excited to work together to address the low carbon challenge the Aldi business faces.”