The Beverly Hilton and Waldorf Astoria

The past decade has witnessed significant advancements in energy storage, with technologies like Tesla's Powerwall, Powerpack, and Megapack gaining attention for their role in residential and commercial applications. However, there is another player in the commercial energy storage arena that often goes unnoticed: thermal energy storage. Recently, Beverly Hilton and The Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills hotels made waves by announcing the implementation of an innovative ice-based thermal energy storage system developed by Nostromo Energy. This cutting-edge solution has the potential to revolutionize energy efficiency in commercial buildings, offering a range of benefits including reduced costs, lower carbon emissions, and enhanced energy resilience.

IceBrick Technology: A Game-Changer in Energy Storage

Nostromo Energy's IceBrick technology stands out as a compact and modular cold-energy storage system designed specifically for retrofitting existing buildings equipped with central-chilled water systems. This makes it applicable to approximately 25% of commercial buildings in the United States. The water-based cells feature proprietary ingredients and utilize advanced thermodynamics to deliver exceptional performance, boasting a round-trip efficiency of 90% and remarkable flexibility in meeting diverse energy requirements.

Optimizing Energy Consumption in Buildings:

Air conditioning constitutes a significant portion of energy consumption in commercial buildings, accounting for approximately half of their total energy usage. By sourcing the massive cooling loads from a thermal energy storage system like IceBrick, buildings can function as large-scale, clean batteries, effectively balancing the grid and seamlessly integrating renewable energy sources. This shift in consumption enables buildings to reduce their reliance on fossil fuel-generated power during peak hours and instead utilize energy from renewable sources, ultimately contributing to a greener and more sustainable energy landscape.

Charging and Discharging Process:

The IceBrick storage system operates by charging the water-based cells during off-peak hours using clean energy sources. When renewable energy generation is limited, such as during sunset or periods of high demand, the system discharges the stored energy into the building's central air conditioning system, supplying the required cooling energy without drawing electricity from the grid. As a result, buildings can enjoy carbon-free air conditioning throughout the day while significantly reducing energy costs by avoiding peak pricing and participating in demand response programs. Moreover, the demand response capabilities of the IceBrick system contribute to grid resilience, helping alleviate stress during periods of high demand and minimizing the risk of blackouts, thus ensuring the uninterrupted functioning of critical facilities.

Installation and Management:

The installation process for the IceBrick system typically takes approximately 6 to 9 months from the contracting phase, ensuring a relatively quick transition to enhanced energy efficiency. Once installed, the system is fully automated and managed through a cloud-based software platform. This software collects and analyzes data from various sources, both internal and external to the building, leveraging advanced algorithms and machine learning to generate customized operational plans for each system. The on-site programmable controller then executes these plans, operating the compressors, pumps, and valves required for charging and discharging the system at optimal times. The cloud-based management system constantly monitors and optimizes the system's operation, providing real-time data on carbon emissions avoidance, cost savings, and other essential metrics accessible through intuitive dashboards accessible from any device.

Customization, Cost, and Longevity:

The IceBrick system is designed to meet the specific cooling needs of each building, ensuring optimal performance and efficiency. Typically, the system can sustain cooling loads for 4-5 hours in buildings ranging from 100,000 square feet and larger. The cost of the system, including installation, can vary depending on factors such as installation conditions, existing cooling systems, and whether it is a retrofit or a new construction. On average, a turnkey installation with a 1 MWh capacity can cost approximately $1 million. However, various financial incentives, such as investment tax credits (ITC) and local utility rebates, can significantly reduce the capital acquisition cost by around 50%. Additionally, Nostromo offers flexible financing options like leasing or clean-energy loans, allowing customers to adopt the system without upfront capital investment. The IceBrick system comes with a 10-year warranty on the storage units, with an expected lifespan of 20-25 years and minimal capacity degradation.

Environmental and Economic Benefits:

Implementing the IceBrick system can lead to substantial cost savings and carbon emissions reductions for commercial buildings. Under a capital ownership model, a typical hotel in California can expect to save 30-50% on cooling costs, with an annual reduction of approximately 200 metric tons of CO2 emissions. Even under a service model, where Nostromo arranges financing and sells energy to the customer at a guaranteed discount, energy bills can be lowered while simultaneously reducing carbon emissions and improving energy resilience.

The IceBrick ice-based thermal energy storage system developed by Nostromo Energy represents a game-changing solution for enhancing energy efficiency in commercial buildings. Its compact and modular design, high round-trip efficiency, and flexibility make it a viable option for retrofitting existing buildings and optimizing their energy consumption. By leveraging thermal energy storage, buildings can become integral components of a clean and resilient energy grid, enabling increased integration of renewable energy sources while reducing costs and carbon footprints. The IceBrick system's advanced management capabilities, customization options, and long lifespan further solidify its position as a sustainable and economically attractive solution for the commercial sector. With the deployment of innovative technologies like IceBrick, the future of energy storage looks promising, paving the way for a greener and more sustainable world.

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News Source: Cleantechnica.com