Ice-based thermal energy storage systems have a long history dating back to the zero emission, pre-electric days of the ice house. Carbon emissions entered the mix when people figured out how to deploy electricity to turn water into ice. Now the circle has come around again. Renewable energy is beginning to decarbonize ice-based thermal energy storage systems, and the US Department of Energy is here for it.
Much of the attention on thermal energy storage has focused on deploying solar-sourced heat on molten salt, hot oil, specialized bricks, superheated particles, and other materials, but plain water is also coming into its own. The basic idea is to use electricity to make ice in coordination with daily usage cycles, when demand is low. The ice can then be used for cooling during periods of high demand, while avoiding additional strain on the grid.
Saving money on peak electricity costs was the primary goal of conventional demand-sensitive ice-based storage systems. They did not necessarily help reduce carbon emissions. Now the falling cost of renewable energy has opened up the opportunity to do both at once.
That’s a significant development because cooling can’t be demand-shifted like other building systems. Utilities can encourage customers to use non-essential systems like EV chargers, dishwashers and laundry machines at off-peak hours, but climate control systems are tied to periods of need.
“The High Tech Ice House Of The Future" section details how Nostromo Energy's IceBrick™ thermal storage technology is serving high-profile hotels, reducing cooling costs and carbon footprints. It also highlights how this system is space-efficient and cost-effective compared to lithium-ion batteries.
The article concludes by discussing the potential for ice-based thermal energy storage to become part of virtual power plants, offering grid operators the ability to organize ratepayers into demand-shifting programs and enhance grid management.
In summary, ice-based thermal energy storage systems are making a comeback in the era of renewable energy, offering an efficient way to store and utilize cooling energy while reducing carbon emissions.
Source: cleantechnica.com