Presentation Topic. Woolworths investment in the Australian industry to deliver sustainable HFC-free refrigeration innovation

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2 Presentation Topic Woolworths investment in the Australian industry to deliver sustainable HFC-free refrigeration innovation

3 Technology uncertainty 10 years of uncertainty surrounding synthetic greenhouse gas policy Androgynous global warming controversy Backtrack on carbon tax and carbon levies on refrigerants Lack of constructive political debate and productive community conversation 10 years where industry stakeholders searching for a technology road map to the future

4 Policy certainty 2016 COP21 agreement and subsequent ratification by Australian government Adoption of an 85% HFC phase down strategy by 2036 Australian industry now armed with the certainty to develop a refrigerant technology roadmap

5 Australia is unique far removed from the natural refrigerants fermenting pot that is Europe just two retailers who command the majority of the modern grocery distribution pie challenges sourcing skilled refrigeration engineers and technicians one challenge we appear have in common with industry peers the world over unlikely our education institutions will be able to bridge this industry gap in time to meet the challenges laid out by the federal government

6 Industry leadership Incumbent on the larger retailers as the principal actors in the local refrigeration industry to show leadership Technology leadership is unlikely to come from anywhere else...

7 Woolworths and leadership 2006 release of the sustainability strategy

8 Woolworths and leadership Refrigeration the main source of carbon emissions hence central to a carbon abatement strategy

9 Woolworths and leadership 2006 took the first uncertain but courageous steps away from R404a systems by opening first cascade R134a/CO2 store in the fleet. By 2017 cascade R134a/CO2 systems have become commonplace with +200 stores in the estate Installed costs and energy consumption are significantly lower than previous generation R404a systems CO2 as a refrigerant underpinned the successful 40% carbon reduction milestone hit in 2015

10 Woolworths new horizons February 2017 release of the 2020 Corporate Responsibility Strategy

11 Woolworths new horizons Targets 13 & 14: Responding to climate change

12 Woolworths new horizons Target 14 message: the time has now come to give serious consideration towards very low HFC or HFCfree systems

13 Low HFC system - WaterLoop Pilot WaterLoop system operating at Collins Square (VIC) opened to trade 14/03/2017

14 Low HFC system - WaterLoop Concept drawing of a WaterLoop supermarket with free-cooling chiller courtesy of Carel

15 Low HFC system - WaterLoop WaterLoop systems offer massive potential for reduction in refrigerant charge and refrigerant leak rate. Hence large reduction in direct carbon emissions. A typical 3,800sqm store 900kg charge of R134a and 400kg CO2. The same capacity WaterLoop system 280kg of R410a refrigerant the rest is water.

16 Low HFC systems - WaterLoop AIRAH publications suggest supermarkets leak rates at around 12-15% p.a. For self-contained fixtures (i.e. WaterLoop) the leak rates are around 2-3%. Chillers around 7%.

17 Low HFC systems - WaterLoop Direct emissions impact for a 3,800sqm supermarket 193 tonnes CO2-e per year. The equivalent WaterLoop system will have around 24 tonnes CO2-e per year. The hydronic circuit in WaterLoop systems unlock significant potential for energy reduction hence abatement of indirect emissions Implementation of free-cooling chiller Heat recovery from return leg of water reticulation

18 HFC-free systems - T-CO2 Pilot transcritical CO2 system currently under construction at Colebee (NSW). Scheduled to open to trade May 2017

19 HFC-free systems - T-CO2 Transcritical CO2 systems are not new. The first commercial refrigeration systems were installed in Europe close to 20 years ago and by last count (courtesy of Schecco) there are now over 8,700 The challenge with transcritical systems is implicit in the very name; when a system is running in transcritical mode it is no longer able to condense the compressor discharge gas into useful liquid. To obtain useful liquid, the discharge fluid from the gas-cooler must first be throttled via a high pressure valve. The throttling process creates useful liquid refrigerant and a proportion unuseful flash gas.

20 HFC-free systems - T-CO2 Transcritical cycle operating in a 35 C ambient A -10 SST system operating at ideal gas cooler pressure will produce around 50% unuseful vapour Australia is a warm country 35 C is not exceptional

21 HFC-free systems - T-CO2 Managing flash gas with efficiency in mind Adiabatic cooling Parallel compressors Ejectors Adiabatic cooling systems offer scope to reduce effective air-on temperatures to almost wet-bulb conditions. Following a psychrometric chart from 35 C & 30%RH along the constant enthalpy line yield a wet-bulb temp of 22 C Significant potential for shifting the gas cooler outlet conditions to the left and reducing the proportion of flash gas

22 HFC-free systems - T-CO2 Parallel compressors re-compress unuseful flash gas using a dedicated suction group. In the previous cycle flash gas is re-compressed by the compressors operating at -10 C SST (25bar for CO2) hence working with a pressure differential from 25bar to 94bar. Parallel compressor operate on a pressure differential from 35bar to 94bar the benefit of parallel compression with reduced compression ratio is immediately apparent

23 HFC-free systems - T-CO2 Ejectors use the Venturi effect of a convergingdiverging nozzle to create a low pressure zone that draws in and entrains a suction fluid. After passing through the throat of the ejector, the mixed fluid expands and the velocity is reduced which results in recompressing the mixed fluids. There is ample supply of high pressure ejector motive fluid in transcritical CO2 systems

24 Woolworths HFC objective To enable the Australian commercial refrigeration industry is able to successfully design, install, commission and service/maintain low-hfc and HFC-free supermarket refrigeration systems into the decades ahead.

25 Woolworths HFC strategy To invest in the Australian commercial refrigeration industry by leveraging the skills already present to deliver on the 2020 refrigerants corporate commitments. To generate momentum, spark imaginations to develop the local skillset which will be needed to meet our HFC objectives. Therefore sustain the innovation beyond the store opening date.

26 Woolworths HFC strategy Extensive research including installation inspections, manufacturing facility visits and trade exhibitions with the view to developing system and equipment design briefs.

27 Woolworths HFC strategy Engagement with internal stakeholders to: buy in to the 2020 corporate refrigerant objectives and partake in the effort (capex premium to be expected with any pilot system) foster a sense of participation and confidence in the proposed non conventional systems with a view to obtaining consensus

28 Woolworths HFC strategy Engagement with local technology partners with a view to identifying suitable: installation and maintenance contractors showcase manufacturers with transcritical CO2 know how and manufacturing flexibility to deliver bespoke retailer solutions transcritical CO2 rack designers with understanding of best practice design for warm climates and direct links/control on manufacturing gas cooler manufacturers with robust local support electronic controls providers with a strong presence in the local market, good support capacity, successful track record of transcritical CO2 delivery in warm climates

29 Woolworths HFC strategy Ongoing support from Woolworths Engineering and bridging the knowledge across all stakeholders No single technology partner can see every piece of the big picture puzzle. Fostering a collaborative environment conducive to effective communication is paramount. Ensure all stakeholders are granted the opportunity to understand the transcritical CO2 cycle and its implications on their equipment. Creating opportunities for technology partners to meet, express concerns, provide feedback, make recommendations and optimise designs. Coordinate training opportunities with hands-on workshops Constantly challenge every stakeholder

30 Woolworths trade strategy 2013 Woolworths formed an in-house facilities management business the primary focus of the business is refrigeration service, HVAC service & refrigeration D&I Presently +170 field technicians between service and installation teams Apprentices numbers have increased to around 10% of the service team. Ongoing investment in skill development through inhouse mentoring.

31 Strategy in action Trade exhibitions, installation inspections, manufacturing facility visits.

32 Strategy in action Supplier - Contractor innovation forums with

33 Strategy in action Training seminars and hands-on activities with installation teams and suppliers

34 Conclusions Regulation has meant the days of HFCs are numbered and their installation and maintenance price points will start moving. WaterLoop systems afford retailers with low-hfc warm environment resilient solutions. Transcritical CO2 systems are HFC-free. Both systems have scope for integration with mechanical services.

35 Conclusions These non-conventional systems have already been successfully implemented in the Australian market. However, their non-conventional nature presents challenges to the local industry. The onus is therefore on the industry stakeholders to invest in developing the human resources to meet these technological challenges.

36 Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Your task is not to foresee the future, but to enable it.

37 Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Grown-ups never understand anything for themselves, and it is tiresome for children to be always and forever explaining things to them.