Thermal Energy Storage: It's not Just for Electric Cost Savings Anymore

Abstract

Large cool Thermal Energy Storage (TES), typically ice TES or chilled water (CHW) TES, has traditionally been thought of, and used for, managing time-of-day electricity use to reduce the cost associated with electric energy and demand charges for air-conditioning or process refrigeration. However, this is but one of the many benefits which are often and increasingly obtained from the use of TES. These other benefits can include one or more of the examples which are described, depending on the particular situation of a given facility. Each of these additional benefits is illustrated with at least one specific real-world TES installation, including example applications from automotive assembly, pharmaceutical manufacturing, insurance data processing, computing facilities, corporate research, on-site Combined Heat & Power (CHP), etc.