Thermal Energy Storage and How to Use It: Energy Storage Technology: Eco20/20

Thermal Energy Storage and How to Use It

Thermal energy storage can be achieved through a number of green technologies. The idea behind this technology is to store energy for later use; which balances the demand for energy during the day and at night. Thermal energy storage containers store ice or cold water to cool buildings during the day. Thermal energy systems can also store heat in insulated units to be used for electricity or space heating. The success of thermal energy storage is becoming big news in the world of green technology.

IceBank Thermal Storage a Global Hit

Calmac is a designer and manufacturer of thermal energy storage products. They have sold and installed over 800 ice skating rinks around the country. Their green technology, known as IceBank, has been used to cool buildings using stored energy for several years. This technology is now being used around the world.

IceBank is a thermal storage tank that stores renewable energy in the form of wind and night time electricity, which is less expensive during this time. The IceBank units, which contain water, are installed on the roof of a building. The less expensive nighttime electricity turns this water into ice. During the day, when energy demand is at its peak and most expensive, the cooling equipment in the building is turned off. The cold water from the melted ice is pumped into the building to keep it cool. The use of storing thermal energy in this manner actually cuts cooling costs from 20 to 40 percent.

One retailer in Honolulu cut daytime energy use to half utilizing the technology. Icebank is installed in 3,500 buildings in 36 countries around the world. The success of IceBank is spreading which is proof that thermal energy storage can be successful when used efficiently.

Hawaii Becoming a Renewable Energy Leader

Green technology leader Sopogy, Inc. will supply solar thermal collectors for a new five megawatt plant in Hawaii. This will be the largest Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) project in Hawaii. The technology is a highly efficient, low cost application that will provide electricity, heating and cooling in buildings. The CSP plant will have the capability to store as well as backup energy. This benefits the grid because it allows for a buffer on cloudy days or during the night hours. Sopogy's manufacturing process uses conventional materials so that the storage modules can be produced locally or anywhere in the world. Breaking ground on the new plant is a big step toward the implementation of the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative. The initiative's goal is to achieve 70% renewable energy usage in the state by the year 2030.

Funding to Research Energy Storage Solutions

In related news the National Science Foundation (NSF) announced an award of fourteen grants totaling nearly $28 million for the 2010 fiscal year. These grants will be given to 62 investigators within 24 institutions. The grants will provide funding for researchers to pursue the storage of energy and also to engineer sustainable buildings for the next four years. With an awareness of the benefits of generating energy from renewable resources, these researchers plan to create new ways for large scale energy technologies that are both efficient and economical.