Generating, storing and utilising energy: Nagel-Group sets new standards in Bochum

In order to fulfil the coldest requirements of the food industry, energy is obtained from the hottest celestial body. This is not paradoxical, but climate-friendly. In Bochum, Nagel-Group operates the largest rooftop photovoltaic system in the Ruhr region and will commission a high-performance battery storage system in 2024. The self-generated electricity supplies the cooling system and various e-vehicles, among other things. The site is also committed to sustainability in other ways.

“Whether environmental, economic or social: the aspect of sustainability is an important criterion for all our corporate decisions,” says Carsten Taucke, CEO of Nagel-Group. “And today more than ever.”

The Bochum branch shows how to fulfil the increasing demands of customers and society with passion. In recent years, it has developed from a “long-established location” into one of the most modern within Nagel-Group. The flagship building is conveniently located in the north of the city, directly at the motorway junction where two of the most important traffic arteries in the Ruhr region, the A40 and A43, meet.

Annual CO2 savings: 1,200 tonnes

Germany’s largest food logistics company maintains a refrigerated warehouse here with more than 55,000 pallet spaces in various temperature zones. That is very energy-intensive. But Nagel-Group is well on the way to achieving climate neutrality. On the roof in Bochum, 8,000 photovoltaic modules generate two million kilowatt hours per year, almost all of which is used for the company’s own requirements.

Technical support is also on the road with an electric vehicle.

This year, the site will be expanded to include another PV system with around 1,100 kWp and a state-of-the-art battery storage system. Its dimensions are reminiscent of three 20-foot sea freight containers. The multi-million euro investment involves a particularly long-lasting and powerful vanadium redox flow battery. Compared to the lithium-ion batteries widely used in cars and smartphones, this sustainable storage type has an operating life of over 25 years, which is more than twice as long. Vanadium redox flow batteries are also environmentally friendly energy storage devices in other respects: recyclable, neither flammable nor explosive. And they represent a new technology: “Innovative and powerful battery systems are useful components of the plant technology with which we sustainably organise the complex energy balance of a location for refrigerated logistics,” says Silvio Weiß, Energy Manager at Nagel-Group. The Bochum site is one of the pioneers in the industry. “Now we first have to gain experience with these storage systems.” – The whole thing has future prospects, but it will take time.

The stored solar power is used to drive electric vehicles through the former coalfield. Like many other Nagel-Group sites, Bochum operates fully electric pool vehicles that are available to staff for business trips. Emission-free journeys to customers promote the business climate. The food industry likes it when its service providers put the issue of sustainability and carbon footprint high up on the agenda, both on a large and small scale.

The all-electric 18-tonne truck from Scania goes on tour every day as a delivery vehicle.

Climate-friendly delivery to supermarkets and hotels

A very special electric vehicle gave a further boost to sustainability at the end of 2022: At the time of commissioning, it was the first fully electric lorry on the road as a delivery vehicle in Germany. The Scania 18-tonne truck is powered by climate-friendly electricity for both the drive and cooling systems. The truck has a range of 140 kilometres. In Germany’s largest conurbation, this is enough to drive to up to 20 hotels, supermarkets and other unloading stations on the distribution route.

“We benefit from the typical stop-and-go traffic in the Ruhr region,” explains Daniel Orzall, Head of Haulage in Bochum. This is no gallows humour. “Traffic jams help us to generate electricity from braking energy using recuperation.” Nagel’s e-transporter for the technical service is also emission-free.

Respect for the performance of our employees

Speaking of emission-free. Most lorries still run on conventional fuel and this is unlikely to change in the coming years, despite all the innovation. But it makes a difference whether the truck consumes 30 or 22 litres of diesel per 100 kilometres. “We train our drivers regularly and reward a resource-conserving driving style,” says Orzall. In an internal challenge, four employees at the site made it into the group of the most economical drivers in the entire Nagel-Group and were honoured for this. According to Orzall, this outstanding performance by the Bochum-based company is not least due to the fact that “our fleet manager repeatedly instructs colleagues to drive with foresight and thus reduce consumption”.

As a thank-you, there is sometimes a cosy evening for all the drivers. In other words, the term sustainability also stands for fair and respectful treatment of employees.

Refrigeration technology aims for sustainability

Sustainability also includes refrigeration technology. The refrigerant R404A used to date will be completely replaced by a natural one in the next few years: ammonia (NH3 or R-717). The Federal Environment Agency rates ammonia as an “environmentally friendly refrigerant. This is because it has no ozone depletion potential and does not contribute directly to the greenhouse effect”.

The new refrigeration technology has a positive side effect: a ten per cent reduction in energy consumption. The actual consumption depends on what is being stored and what temperature is required in each case. Adjustments are made according to demand. And another contribution to greater sustainability: the air coolers in the halls are defrosted using the waste heat from the refrigeration machines.

Ten locations with ZNU certificate

Ten Nagel-Group sites are already ZNU-certified. The standard was defined by the Centre for Sustainable Corporate Management (ZNU) at Witten/Herdecke University. The certificate documents that a location has implemented the holistic “Sustainable Management” management system and is making measurable progress on its key sustainability issues.

The bees on the company premises also carry out “collection transport”.

“Holistic” also includes biodiversity. A look outside confirms this. On the company premises, 40,000 bees practise their own kind of “foraging” and diligently produce nectar in the hive. The results of the ecological honey factory can be purchased by employees. The proceeds are always donated to a good cause in the region, for example in the form of a donation cheque for the Diakonie workshop for the disabled or the children’s hospice. The beehive has been on the flowering meadow since 2021. “Autonomous lawnmowers” are on the move to prevent grasses, flowers and herbs from sprouting too abundantly. Not stubborn robots, but peace-loving sheep. That is also sustainable.