Thermal Energy Storage Helps CA Food Banks During COVID-19 and PSPS
During this difficult era of coronavirus and increased unemployment, more Californians are in need of food assistance and support programs that food banks provide to their communities. This has added even more strain to the food, human, and financial resources of all our food banks.
To further complicate the situation in California, which has some of the most expensive energy costs and where most utilities increased rates in April/May 2020, wildfire season is here with increased power supply disruptions due to de-energization via Public Safety Power Shutoff – PSPS. This puts the already limited refrigerated food supply in further jeopardy.
Thermal Energy Storage (TES) technology from Viking Cold protects frozen food three times longer during PSPS events and loss of refrigeration. TES also reduces energy costs by up 25% or more by reducing total refrigeration usage and avoiding peak energy prices for up to 13 hours per day.
With TES more money stays in the food bank, frozen food inventory is much safer, and more meals are provided to those in need.
Funding CA Food Banks for TES Technology
The good news for food banks in California is that there are many funding sources that can cover up to 100% of TES technology including no-upfront capital financing options through the State of California, the major utilities across the state, energy efficiency financing pilot programs, and Viking Cold.
Here are some examples:
– California’s Public Utilities Commission’s Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP)
– Custom incentive utility programs (potential for on-bill financing)
– Small business energy efficiency with GoGreen Financing
– Viking Cold’s Thermal Energy Storage as a Service (TESaaS): no-upfront cost and guaranteed savings – Contact Us
Using these funding options and minimizing upfront capital provides food banks flexibility in how to deploy donor funding and to feed more Californians in need faster.
Food Banks with Thermal Energy Storage
TES Benefits for California Food Banks
The TES system’s intelligence platform optimizes energy use and temperatures in refrigerated environments across the cold chain by making real-time decisions and leveraging the unique thermodynamic properties of TES (See how it works in this video).
1. Cut energy costs: Reduce overall kWh consumption & safely shift refrigeration load to avoid up to 13 hours of peak pricing.
2. Extend temperature resiliency 3X during power outages or equipment failure.
3. Better protect food quality and shelf life.
4. Reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reach sustainability goals faster.
5. TES does not require any additional real estate, maintenance, or grid interconnectivity.
6. Pairs very well with solar
7. Increase leverage to negotiate improved fixed rates and/or reduce risks of lower-cost variable rate plans at renewal time.
8. Fund TES without up-front capital
Start a discussion with us today to learn more about how TES projects in California food banks are funded, how they better protect your food, and how they help put more donor funds towards feeding Californians in need.
California Owner: hear about the cost savings, temperature improvements, and resiliency benefits from a PG&E customer who cut their annual energy costs by almost 50%.
You can also read the case study here.
More videos, case studies, white papers and other resources here.
Food Processing – Emerging Food Safety Technologies
Food Processing Magazine has published an eHandbook outlining new technologies that food processors can use to improve food safety and food quality in their operations. A number of new food processing technologies and their benefits are described including the food quality and energy-saving benefits of thermal energy storage.
Frozen Foods Europe Exclusive: Protecting Food Supply in Extreme Weather
As weather conditions become more extreme around the globe (heat waves, hurricanes, wildfires, flooding) and more frequently affect the power supply, how are cold storage operators adding protection for their food product and resiliency to their operations? Frozen Foods Europe has published an article outlining the role of Thermal Energy Storage (TES) in protecting frozen food from extreme weather incidents and how TES can add resiliency and reduce energy costs every day in-between.
ProFood World - Transform your operation from energy consumer to energy producer
ProFood World, a leading food and beverage manufacturing publication, recognized Viking Cold's Thermal Energy Storage technology as one of the technologies empowering food producers to lower energy costs and to help reach corporate responsibility and sustainability goals.
