15 May 2025

Driving Energy Efficiency with Integrated CO2

AJ Baker & Ritchies at ATMO Australia 2025

At the ATMO Australia 2025 summit, Baker Refrigeration and Ritchies Stores joined forces to present a compelling case study on maximizing energy efficiency through a combination of transcritical CO₂ refrigeration and HVAC systems. This innovative project at Ritchies Balnarring showcases how advanced refrigeration technology, solar power and efficient HVAC integration can transform supermarket operations.

Project Overview

Ritchies Balnarring, originally constructed in 2004, had a sales area of 1,530m² with R404A refrigeration systems, open-front multidecks and limited heat reclaim and cooling capabilities.

The store’s annual power consumption exceeded 1,300MWh, creating a significant opportunity for energy optimisation.

In 2023/24, the store underwent a comprehensive refurbishment aimed at reducing energy use and enhancing operational efficiency. Key upgrades included:

Expansion of the store footprint by 1,100m².
Implementation of the Epta Transcritical CO₂ DX plant, integrating HVAC and refrigeration systems.
Installation of a 211kW solar panel system to supplement energy needs.

System Details

The refurbished store now boasts:

Extreme temperature efficiency ETE
150kW direct expansion to air AC cooling load and 150kW direct exchange to Air reclaim heat load into the AC
32kW Low Temp (LT) and 160kW Medium Temp (MT) display cases.
A 150kW air conditioning heating load powered by MT waste heat.
300L hot water storage utilizing LT waste heat.
Twin CCT gas cooler with adiabatic cooling for enhanced performance.
Advanced monitoring and control systems to optimise energy efficiency.

Key Results & Benefits

Energy Reduction: Significant decreases in power consumption through optimised systems and solar integration.
Operational Stability: Enhanced system control and consistent store conditions.
Sustainability Impact: Reduced environmental footprint through the use of natural refrigerants and waste heat recovery.

Overall the DX Combined plants displayed a great return, they observed the stable operation, in the specific store conditions, registered reduced energy consumption and provided the team at Balnarring full control.

The Ritchies Balnarring project serves as a model for how supermarkets can effectively combine transcritical CO₂ refrigeration, HVAC systems and renewable energy to lower operational costs and meet sustainability goals.