Smart Solution for Lowering Electricity Bills
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With the emergence of green energy sources such as solar and wind power, the need for large-scale energy storage has become more crucial than ever to ensure the availability of energy even after sunset. In the United States, thousands of buildings are able to maintain their cooling with the help of advanced batteries made from one of the simplest materials in the world.اضافة اعلان
Simple Technology
Through a freezing process, water batteries convert water into ice, where a typical building uses about one-fifth of its electricity for cooling, according to the International Energy Agency. This technology saves hundreds of thousands of dollars annually on electricity bills.
In areas where the weather is hot and energy prices fluctuate widely throughout the day—such as Texas, Southern California, and much of the American Southwest—buildings can reduce their electricity bills and carbon emissions by up to a third, experts say, according to the Washington Post.
When every building runs its air conditioning at the same time on a hot day, energy companies often turn on backup generators, known as peak plants, which are expensive and generally polluting. By avoiding peak plant usage, utilities can pollute less and save money.
Last year, the U.S. Department of Energy entered into an initial loan agreement worth $306 million with Nostromo Energy to manufacture ice batteries and install their systems in 193 buildings in California to make energy cheaper and cleaner while reducing the risk of power outages in the state.
Giant Batteries
Ice batteries are large-scale systems, and in New York City, there is a battery that uses 100 tanks the size of parking spaces. However, this is changing, and new smaller designs are making it possible to bring batteries to smaller buildings and even homes.
Experts say that wherever they can enter the market, ice batteries might be a cheaper and longer-lasting option than lithium-ion batteries, which power phones, cars, and some buildings because their main component is water. Expensive chemicals in a lithium-ion battery can break down after 10 years, but water never corrodes.
One company has already installed ice batteries in over 4,000 buildings in America.
How It Works
A large refrigerator cools a mixture of water and glycol (an antifreeze component) to below freezing. The system then pumps the mixture through coiled pipes inside each tank filled with water. At temperatures near zero, the glycol solution freezes the water, storing energy in the form of ice.
When energy is needed, the glycol mixture flows from the pipes into a closed-loop air conditioning system. By mixing with water and air, it helps cool the building for hours.
Ice Thermal Storage
This technology has proven effective for many years, efficiently storing frozen thermal energy for later use. By utilizing electricity during off-peak hours when energy is abundant and cheaper, thermal storage systems produce ice, which then melts during peak hours during the day when electricity demand is high and costly—thus complementing cooling systems in buildings.
Ice storage systems provide an energy-efficient cooling solution that aligns with both financial responsibility and environmental commitments. By reducing demand on electrical infrastructure, ice storage alleviates pressure on utilities and reduces the cost of electrical system components, as well as heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems in buildings. This, in turn, helps utilities avoid building new power plants, leading to reduced carbon emissions.
Similar to cooling loads in buildings, electricity demand from utilities experiences low points at night and peaks in the afternoon when people are present, and energy consumption is high. Implementing ice storage can help smooth out the electricity demand profile for utilities, enhancing their efficiency with existing equipment. For every four buildings equipped with ice storage, utilities can serve five buildings effectively.
Significant Cost Savings
In addition to the environmental benefits, ice storage systems generate substantial cost savings. By reducing the size of components in air conditioning systems, initial equipment and installation costs are reduced. Smaller component sizes also lead to lower kilowatt electricity requirements, reducing the "initial cost" of electricity distribution, wiring, actuators, and transformers. When combining these mechanical and electrical savings, you can implement a water cooling system at a lower cost during the building's construction phase.
Furthermore, the efficiency of ice-cooled chillers is much higher because the surrounding temperature at night is at least 10-15°C lower, and chillers perform better during the night when utilities produce energy more efficiently in the middle of the night, which also means lower airborne emissions (greenhouse gases).
Recognized Sustainability
Thermal ice storage is recognized for its sustainability by prestigious institutions such as the U.S. Green Building Council, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, and the International District Energy Association. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system from the U.S. Green Building Council grants credits for thermal ice storage in the energy and atmosphere categories. The Green Guide of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers recommends thermal energy storage and local power plants to reduce energy consumption, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and improve system efficiency.
Simple Technology
Through a freezing process, water batteries convert water into ice, where a typical building uses about one-fifth of its electricity for cooling, according to the International Energy Agency. This technology saves hundreds of thousands of dollars annually on electricity bills.
In areas where the weather is hot and energy prices fluctuate widely throughout the day—such as Texas, Southern California, and much of the American Southwest—buildings can reduce their electricity bills and carbon emissions by up to a third, experts say, according to the Washington Post.
When every building runs its air conditioning at the same time on a hot day, energy companies often turn on backup generators, known as peak plants, which are expensive and generally polluting. By avoiding peak plant usage, utilities can pollute less and save money.
Last year, the U.S. Department of Energy entered into an initial loan agreement worth $306 million with Nostromo Energy to manufacture ice batteries and install their systems in 193 buildings in California to make energy cheaper and cleaner while reducing the risk of power outages in the state.
Giant Batteries
Ice batteries are large-scale systems, and in New York City, there is a battery that uses 100 tanks the size of parking spaces. However, this is changing, and new smaller designs are making it possible to bring batteries to smaller buildings and even homes.
Experts say that wherever they can enter the market, ice batteries might be a cheaper and longer-lasting option than lithium-ion batteries, which power phones, cars, and some buildings because their main component is water. Expensive chemicals in a lithium-ion battery can break down after 10 years, but water never corrodes.
One company has already installed ice batteries in over 4,000 buildings in America.
How It Works
A large refrigerator cools a mixture of water and glycol (an antifreeze component) to below freezing. The system then pumps the mixture through coiled pipes inside each tank filled with water. At temperatures near zero, the glycol solution freezes the water, storing energy in the form of ice.
When energy is needed, the glycol mixture flows from the pipes into a closed-loop air conditioning system. By mixing with water and air, it helps cool the building for hours.
Ice Thermal Storage
This technology has proven effective for many years, efficiently storing frozen thermal energy for later use. By utilizing electricity during off-peak hours when energy is abundant and cheaper, thermal storage systems produce ice, which then melts during peak hours during the day when electricity demand is high and costly—thus complementing cooling systems in buildings.
Ice storage systems provide an energy-efficient cooling solution that aligns with both financial responsibility and environmental commitments. By reducing demand on electrical infrastructure, ice storage alleviates pressure on utilities and reduces the cost of electrical system components, as well as heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems in buildings. This, in turn, helps utilities avoid building new power plants, leading to reduced carbon emissions.
Similar to cooling loads in buildings, electricity demand from utilities experiences low points at night and peaks in the afternoon when people are present, and energy consumption is high. Implementing ice storage can help smooth out the electricity demand profile for utilities, enhancing their efficiency with existing equipment. For every four buildings equipped with ice storage, utilities can serve five buildings effectively.
Significant Cost Savings
In addition to the environmental benefits, ice storage systems generate substantial cost savings. By reducing the size of components in air conditioning systems, initial equipment and installation costs are reduced. Smaller component sizes also lead to lower kilowatt electricity requirements, reducing the "initial cost" of electricity distribution, wiring, actuators, and transformers. When combining these mechanical and electrical savings, you can implement a water cooling system at a lower cost during the building's construction phase.
Furthermore, the efficiency of ice-cooled chillers is much higher because the surrounding temperature at night is at least 10-15°C lower, and chillers perform better during the night when utilities produce energy more efficiently in the middle of the night, which also means lower airborne emissions (greenhouse gases).
Recognized Sustainability
Thermal ice storage is recognized for its sustainability by prestigious institutions such as the U.S. Green Building Council, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, and the International District Energy Association. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system from the U.S. Green Building Council grants credits for thermal ice storage in the energy and atmosphere categories. The Green Guide of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers recommends thermal energy storage and local power plants to reduce energy consumption, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and improve system efficiency.
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