Sector integration with combined heating and cooling

The case

IKEA Aalborg aimed to replace its four aging HFC refrigeration systems with a carbon-neutral solution. Aalborg District Heating then proposed a partnership to combine heating and cooling through sector integration.

They now have a Fenagy air-to-water heat pump with a chiller module for air conditioning, installed by Krebs A/S. IKEA enjoys efficient air conditioning in the summer, while capturing waste heat from this process and feeding it into the district heating grid. In colder months, the heat pump uses air as a heat source to provide heating for both IKEA and the district heating network.

The heat pump

The H-1200 AW/WW heat pump, using CO2 as a natural refrigerant, is designed to provide flexible cooling and heating. It is housed in a Priess enclosure and equipped with Fenagy’s advanced ejector technology, FenEject, with an automated PLC system that optimises capacity, chiller, evaporator and defrosting operations.

The installation includes four energy collectors (250 kW each) installed on 2-metre legs on a concrete foundation. Below the collectors is a drainage system to manage condensate during defrosting. With a summer cooling capacity of 750 kW, the system fully meets IKEA’s cooling needs while also contributing waste heat to the district heating grid.

This installation is a prime example of sector integration, demonstrating how combining heating and cooling contributes to a more sustainable energy future.