On-site energy storage is not something most businesses will be familiar with, apart from maybe a hot water calorifier.
Think of energy storage, and batteries and maybe hot water tanks will come to mind.
But what about storing cold? And why would you do that?
Refrigeration is a major energy consumer for many UK businesses. Cold food storage is the most familiar, but pharmaceuticals, beverages, data centres, plastic production and healthcare facilities can also be major users.
Traditionally, such businesses will generate cold on demand, which works well, but one company we’ve been working with have developed the means to store cold – de-coupling the generation of cold from demand for it. The benefits of doing so are numerous.
- By keeping a ‘buffer store’ of cold, the load on the chiller plant is smoother, avoiding peaks and throughs. This means much more efficient operation.
- Cold thermal storage allows the chiller plant to run at times of lower cost electricity, i.e. on off-peak rates, thus delivering cost savings. It also optimizes the output of on-site renewables such as solar PV or wind.
- By storing cold thermal energy available for peak demand, enables chiller plant capacity to be downsized for new systems, thus saving capital costs.
- Such a system can incorporate heat recovery, to further enhance energy use reductions.
Claimed energy cost savings are in the region 20-30%, which are significant given the pressures on costs and cutting carbon.
Come and talk to us if you’d like an introduction.
Ewan Bent, 28 Sept 22
