A techno-economic study of energy efficiency technologies for supermarkets in South Africa

Authors

  • Simisha Pather-Elias University of Cape Town
  • Stephen Davis
  • Brett Cohen

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17159/2413-3051/2012/v23i3a3166

Keywords:

supermarkets, energy efficiency, lighting, refrigeration, water heating

Abstract

The food retail sector is energy intensive, consuming large amounts of electricity for refrigeration, air-conditioning and cooking. Retailers are aiming to reduce their electricity consumption in supermarkets and thus their carbon footprint using energy efficiency technologies. This paper reports on a techno-economic analysis of energy efficient technologies to recommend to the food retail sector for use in supermarkets. The targets and needs of food retail companies were surveyed and thereafter, the retailers were divided into three categories. Category 1 retailer had the highest targets for electricity and carbon reduction and was willing to take on more risk. Category 2 retailer had intermediate targets and would only use developed technologies, while category 3 retailer would only invest in developed technologies if they were proven to show significant long term saving with short pay back periods. The analysis showed that closed refrigerators had the highest electricity/carbon savings and the highest profit (NPV), followed by heat reclamation from refrigeration. Both these technologies were recommended for category 1 retailers. A combination of heat reclamation, energy efficient lights, fridge curtains, electronic controls for refrigerators and POS power management systems were recommended for category 3 retailers. A combination of the two recommendations was identified for category 2 retailers. Behavioural changes of all staff were identified as important for energy efficiency technologies to work at optimum levels.

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Author Biography

Simisha Pather-Elias, University of Cape Town

Energy Research Centre Snr Research Officer

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Published

2012-08-01

How to Cite

Pather-Elias, S., Davis, S., & Cohen, B. (2012). A techno-economic study of energy efficiency technologies for supermarkets in South Africa. Journal of Energy in Southern Africa, 23(3), 2–8. https://doi.org/10.17159/2413-3051/2012/v23i3a3166