Eco Factor: Storing renewable energy in ice to reduce peak daytime energy demand.
Of the total amount of electricity generated by all sources, about 75% is used by buildings, a major fraction of which is consumed by air conditioners. With the demand of renewable energy increasing with every passing day, inventors are trying to find the best possible means to store the generated energy during the best time, to provide power when the generators aren’t getting the sources they need.
Calmac believes that instead of storing renewable energy in mega-sized batteries, it’s much more efficient and cost-effective to store energy in the form of ice, which can later be used to provide cooling during high-demand daytime hours. Dubbed IceBank, the system uses the energy generated during off-peak night hours to make ice, which is then stored for use during high-demand daytime hours.
The company expects that the system can cut energy costs by 20-40%, which can reduce emissions from power plants. Moreover, since the storage system isn’t making use of any rare earth minerals, it’s a cost effective approach as well.
Via: EcoGeek/Treehugger
