Galaxus reduces CO₂ emissions at Wohlen logistics centre by 87 per cent
Galaxus is heating its logistics centre in Wohlen with the largest reversible CO₂ heat pump in Europe for the first time this winter. With this innovation, the online retailer is reducing its site’s CO₂ emissions by almost 90 per cent while also improving the indoor climate for its employees.
In a logistics centre spanning the size of 14 football fields, Galaxus employees in Wohlen prepare tens of thousands of parcels for dispatch every day. Since the beginning of Galaxus’s lease in 2009, gas heating has kept the workers warm in winter.
But Galaxus wasn’t satisfied with this, as Andreas Pahud, Leader Facility Management in Wohlen, explains. «In order to meet our climate targets, we decided to take the initiative as tenants and retire the gas heater ourselves.» Starting this winter, a reversible CO₂ heat pump is warming the Galaxus logistics centre in Wohlen. According to the manufacturer (website in German), it’s the largest of its kind in Europe. The system has a maximum heating output of 1,600 kilowatts, which is sufficient for all Galaxus facilities in Wohlen. To put things into perspective, 1,600 kW is enough to heat 100 to 150 single-family homes.
Heat pumps don’t release CO₂, allowing Galaxus to reduce emissions at its Wohlen site by 87 per cent. Andreas explains, «The Wohlen site output was 622 tonnes per year. Thanks to the new pump, the output will sink to 82 tonnes starting in the year 2025. This means we’ll meet our company-wide climate target for 2030 six years earlier than planned – with this one single measure!»
An end to the heat build-up in logistics
A reversible CO₂ heat pump can not only heat buildings, but also cool them, which is very important for the logistics centre in Wohlen. The many machines heat up the site. In addition, it’s challenging to maintain a stable temperature because of the constant draught when trucks come for delivery and pick-up. In the summer months, with the sun beating down on the building, the temperatures in some parts of the Wohlen warehouse climbed to levels that made physical labour difficult.
Source: Galaxus
For this reason, as well as thanks to a lot of feedback from the logistics employees, the project team opted for a reversible rather than a conventional heat pump. Dominique Frey, the on-site Galaxus project coordinator, explains, «It was very important to us that the reversible CO₂ heat pump be in operation by summer 2024. It was a tight deadline, but we made it.» The endeavour proved successful; the temperature in the warehouse fell compared to previous summers and remained constant.
«The feedback from our logistics workers this summer was very positive. They reported that performing physical work was more comfortable with the new cooling system. In other words, both our employees and the environment benefit,» says Andreas happily.
