Logistics and distribution centre · Cooling
Cooling in logistics and distribution centre: what the SRI measures
Cooling mirrors heating: control per room, prevent heating and cooling from fighting each other, store cold when electricity is cheap, and let the chiller follow actual demand.
In short
- 1This page shows how the Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI) assesses cooling in a logistics and distribution centre.
- 2The Cooling domain counts for 1 of 3 weightings here, less heavily than electricity and charging infrastructure.
- 3The ten services in this domain range from simple on-off control to smart management that responds to electricity grid signals.
Weight of this domain for this building type
Which services count
| Service | Lowest level | Highest level | Advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cooling emission control C-1a · A · 5 levels | No automatic control | Individual room control with communication and occupancy detection | at least level 1 |
| Emission control for TABS (cooling mode) C-1b · 4 levels | No automatic control | Advanced central automatic control with intermittent operation and/or room temperature feedback control | – |
| Control of distribution network chilled water temperature (supply or return) C-1c · 3 levels | Constant temperature control | Demand based control | – |
| Control of distribution pumps in networks C-1d · 5 levels | No automatic control | Variable speed pump control (external demand signal) | – |
| Interlock: avoiding simultaneous heating and cooling in the same room C-1f · 3 levels | No interlock | Total interlock (control system ensures no simultaneous heating and cooling can take place) | – |
| Control of Thermal Energy Storage (TES) operation C-1g · 4 levels | Continuous storage operation | Cold storage capable of flexible control through grid signals (e.g. DSM) | – |
| Generator control for cooling C-2a · A · 4 levels | On/Off-control of cooling production | Variable control of cooling production capacity depending on the load AND external signals from grid | at least level 1 |
| Sequencing of different cooling generators C-2b · 5 levels | Priorities only based on running times | Sequencing based on dynamic priority list, including external signals from grid | – |
| Report information regarding cooling system performance C-3 · A · 5 levels | None | Central or remote reporting of performance evaluation including forecasting and/or benchmarking; also including predictive management and fault detection | at least level 1 |
| Flexibility and grid interaction C-4 · A · 5 levels | No automatic control | Optimized control of cooling system based on local predictions and grid signals (e.g. through model predictive control) | at least level 1 |
Worked example
If everything in this domain is at level 0, the domain contributes nothing. At the highest level for all services, the indicative total score for this building type rises by about 17 percentage points (from 29 to 46 percent, with all other domains at level 1).
Why does cooling count in a distribution centre?
A logistics centre consists mainly of large, high-ceilinged halls with few occupants. Cooling plays a smaller role here than in offices or homes, but is not absent. Office spaces within the building, server rooms and sometimes refrigerated storage do require control.
The Cooling domain therefore weighs 1 of 3 points in this building category, the lowest weighting of the domains. The focus in this building type lies on electricity, zone-based lighting and charging infrastructure for electric transport.
Which smart-ready services fall under this domain?
The Smart Readiness Indicator distinguishes ten smart-ready services within the Cooling domain. These services concern the control of cooling output per room, the temperature of chilled water in the distribution network and pump management.
The operation of the chiller itself also counts, as does the sequence in which multiple chillers are deployed. Performance data reporting and the ability to respond flexibly to electricity grid signals form the last two services.
Each service has functionality levels from 0 to 4. Level 0 means no automatic control, level 4 stands for predictive, grid-connected management.
What does a low or high level mean in practice?
A distribution centre without automatic cooling control scores level 0 or 1 on most services. This is often sufficient because cooling demand is limited and predictable.
A higher level becomes relevant once the building has its own solar panels and wants to use surplus electricity for cold storage or flexible management. Service C-4, flexibility and interaction with the grid, then directly supports the charging needs for electric lorries.
How does this domain relate to the rest of the SRI?
The total SRI score is calculated across nine domains, with 54 smart-ready services in total under method B. For logistics buildings, Cooling weighs least heavily of the three relevant domain groups.
The final score falls into one of seven classes, from below 20 per cent to 90 to 100 per cent. Above an HVAC capacity of 290 kilowatts, the SRI is expected to become mandatory for utility buildings following a delegated act from the European Commission, by 30 June 2027 at the latest.
What this means for you
- Owner
- As owner of a distribution centre, it pays to view cooling control not in isolation, but together with the charging plan for electric transport and the solar panels on the roof. This way you make optimal use of the low weighting of this domain, while also preparing for the expected obligation above 290 kilowatts HVAC capacity.
- Tenant
- As a tenant of a hall you will mainly notice comfort in office or break rooms and stable temperature in refrigerated storage. The cooling control itself is usually invisible, but determines whether the climate adapts to actual occupancy.
- Advisor
- When assessing, pay attention to the interaction between service C-1f (interlock) and the building's energy supply, as simultaneous heating and cooling wastes unnecessary capacity on a grid that is already constrained. Also check whether service C-4 is genuinely prepared for demand response, since this forms the bridge between cooling, solar electricity and charging infrastructure.
Next step
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