Ice Energy rolls out utility project

Ice Energy's units make ice at night.

Distributed energy storage startup Ice Energy in January said it is rolling out its technology in a 53 megawatt utility project in Southern California.

The Windsor-based firm is working with the Southern California Public Power Authority, which includes 11 utilities, to deploy Ice Energy’s storage and distribution technology. The two-year deployment is slated to start early this year, and could significantly reduce peak electricity demand, shifting more than 60 gigawatt hours to non-peak periods each year, the company says.

Air conditioning can account for up to 50 percent of a building’s power use, and that is typically drawn during peak times. Ice Energy says its Ice Bear units, which are incorporated into building air conditioning systems, can reduce energy use by up to 95 percent. They work by making ice at night by pumping refrigerant though a series of copper coils, then using the stored ice during the day to provide cooling for air conditioning units. 

The project aligns with California’s objective of employing demand-side energy management solutions before investing in new sources of power generation, says Jeffrey Byron of the California Energy Commission.

Ice Energy has received more than $74 million in financing from investors including Energy Capital Partners and Goldman, Sachs & Co., and Good Energies. Its units have been used in field trials by more than 20 utilities, and are also used for educational and commercial applications and data centers.