Renewable energy has long been synonymous with wind and solar — sources derived from nature’s ability to create energy that emit zero greenhouse gases.  Today, Thermal Energy Storage (TES) is emerging as a critical component of the renewable energy landscape, standing alongside wind and solar as part of the solution for a cleaner, more resilient energy future.

At this year’s Energy Efficiency Policy Forum, put on by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), demand response and virtual power plants (VPPs) were key topics of discussion, with Thermal Energy Storage increasingly recognized as a vital component.  TES provides a reliable and cost-effective means of storing and releasing energy as cold or heat, helping balance supply and demand.  By integrating with distributed energy resources like solar and wind, TES enhances the efficiency and flexibility of VPPs, storing excess renewable energy for later use, reducing grid strain, and improving energy resilience.

The ACEEE is a nonprofit focused on advancing energy efficiency to foster economic growth and address climate change which is committed to reducing energy waste, supporting equitable economic opportunities, and improving public health and the environment.  This year’s Policy Forum centered on shaping federal energy policies, with discussions on building efficiency, transitioning industries to low-carbon practices, and enhancing electric vehicle and freight systems.  The forum aimed to influence policies that strengthen U.S. competitiveness and address climate challenges.

Inspired by the discussions at the Energy Efficiency Policy Forum, Viking Cold Solutions leadership team took these learnings to the subsequent Department of Energy’s Deploy 24 Conference.  The focus of the DOE conference was on accelerating the deployment of critical energy and decarbonization technologies, such as TES, across the U.S.  At both events, Viking Cold engaged with policy makers, utility companies, and developers, exploring the growing opportunities TES offers for increased utilization of renewables.  Viking Cold Solutions is ready to partner with our customers and ensure they achieve their sustainability goals.

Photos by ACEEE and DOE.

With energy costs on the rise and increasing pressure on companies to meet sustainability goals, energy efficiency has become essential for the cold chain and controlled-environment industries.  The Controlled Environment Building Association (CEBA), part of the Global Cold Chain Alliance, focuses on advancing cold chain infrastructure by supporting the design, construction, and maintenance of cold storage facilities and other controlled environment buildings.  Through its Conference & Expo, CEBA connects industry professionals, shares best practices, and promotes innovations that enhance safety, efficiency, and sustainability across temperature-controlled facilities.

CEBA values sustainable design and improving facility resiliency, emphasizing the value of proactive planning to reduce costs, streamline workflows, and implement energy-efficient solutions like Viking Cold Solutions’ Thermal Energy Storage (TES) technology.  The growing demand for energy and strain on the grid has sparked discussions at the event around alternatives such as solar power, natural gas generators, lithium batteries, and the construction of modern, efficient cold storage facilities to replace aging infrastructure.  Solutions like TES help ensure consistent temperature control, operational reliability, demand reduction, and lowered energy consumption, supporting the cold chain industry’s shift toward greater sustainability and resilience.

With a record-breaking 500+ attendees at the 44th CEBA Conference & Expo, Viking Cold Solutions had the opportunity to network with decision makers, executives, and industry leaders.  CEBA drives industry progress by fostering collaboration, encouraging innovation in facility design and construction, and supporting businesses in reducing costs and environmental impact.  The conference also celebrated industry excellence with the Built by the Best Awards.  Viking Cold Solutions congratulates Americold/Stellar on their win in the over $35M category for their ASRS facility in Russellville, AR, featuring 42,000 pallet positions, 136,000 square feet, and 140-foot clear heights.  By supporting the development of modern, resilient facilities during events like their annual conference, CEBA strengthens the entire cold chain infrastructure to meet evolving demands.

POWER Magazine’s Associate Editor Darrell Proctor recently published an article focused on the rebuilding of Puerto Rico’s electrical grid after a number of devastating hurricanes including Hurricane Maria in 2017. “The Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority has embarked on a $20 billion plan to rebuild the island’s power grid. The initiative includes a commitment to generate 40% of the island’s power from renewable resources by 2025, and 100% by 2050. C&I enterprises using distributed power generation are a large part of the effort.”

The article highlights Viking Cold as one of the leading sustainable Distributed Energy Resources (DER) delivering cost-effective, reliable, and resilient power to the island’s industrial and commercial businesses.

Isla Frio, a cold storage company on the island, is building a new 147,000 square foot facility with Viking Cold’s Thermal Energy Storage (TES) technology to add hurricane-resistant food storage capacity to the island. The second phase of the project will include the addition of onsite solar power generation. The combination of renewables with the existing TES installed during construction will maximize the cost-effectiveness of their solar-plus-storage investment and help Puerto Rico meet its aggressive goals to add resilient renewable generation to the grid.

Karma Impact, the impact investment news site aimed at the alternative investment community, published an overview of the impact of Viking Cold Solutions’ technology on energy consumption and costs, resilience, and sustainability.

Starting with the story of Viking Cold, from the initial insight of its founder Paul Robbins, up to its current status as a provider of proven energy savings, Karma Impact outlines the key advantages of Viking Cold Solutions for impact investors.

Karma Impact describes how Viking Cold’s Thermal Energy Storage (TES) technology allows cold storage facilities to consume electricity when prices are lowest, and then maintain low temperatures within each facility while reducing refrigeration energy through the rest of the day. Using sealed containers of a phase change material, managed and monitored through intelligent software, the system with no mechanical components provides efficiency and cost reductions of 25-50% for low-temperature facilities.

Of particular interest to the impact investment community, as Karma Impact noted, is the potential to pair Viking Cold’s TES solutions with renewable energy, such as solar. This combination allows facilities to reduce electricity consumed from the grid by up to 95%, and while facilities managers would be impressed by the resulting cost savings, impact investors will be struck by the ability to dramatically reduce electricity consumption in an energy intensive sector of the economy.

Alternatives to Viking Cold’s TES technologies might understandably be less attractive to impact investors. Traditional batteries, such as Lithium-ion batteries, are environmentally damaging, Karma Impact notes. Alternatively, sub-cooling food to attempt to lower energy costs (often called “flywheeling”) can decrease food quality.

Moreover, Karma Impact notes the impact of Viking Cold’s technology in improving resilience in the face of natural disasters, referencing the experiences of Viking Cold’s customers in Puerto Rico during Hurricanes Maria and Irma.

You can read the full coverage on Karma Impact’s site, here.

To speak directly to Viking Cold, to find out how we can help you reduce electricity consumption, cut carbon emissions, and improve resilience, contact us here.

Thunder Said Energy, the research consultancy for energy technologies, has released a review of the benefits of thermal energy storage for refrigeration, renewable energy sources, and energy storage at large.

Phase Change Materials (PCM), such as those used by Viking Cold Solutions, are described by the report as a “game-changer” for energy storage technology, particularly with reference to their use alongside renewable energy. The report explains the economics of cold storage, the functioning of Phase Change Materials, and covers a review of 5,800 patents in the space.

Thunder Said’s Phase Change Materials review made the key observation that PCM technologies can:

• Earn double-digit Internal Rate of Return
• Unlock 20% efficiency gains in freezers and refrigerators
• Provide superior efficiency over battery storage

Noting that refrigerators and freezers comprise 9% of the US electric grid, including consumption across 4,200 warehouses, 40,000 supermarkets, and 620,000 restaurants, Thunder Said is bullish on the potentials of Phase Change Materials.

The PCM report, which can be purchased from the authors here, highlights the achievements of Viking Cold Solutions’ thermal energy management technologies, the industry-leading performance that will be of particular interest to the readers. While Thunder Said expects 20% improvements in efficiency gains and commensurate cost savings, Viking Cold’s own installations have delivered efficiency improvements and cost savings of between 25% and 50%, out-performing the analysts’ expectations.

Viking Cold Solutions has developed its own PCMs and proprietary software from its headquarters in Houston, Texas, and now has the technology installed and running in locations from California to Puerto Rico and Mexico to Australia, with years of reliable operation and documented case studies to confirm the technology’s effectiveness in reducing cost, energy consumption, and carbon emissions.

For specific case studies and overviews of Viking Cold Solutions’ technology’s performance, see our Resources. And to find out how we can improve your energy efficiency and reduce your energy costs, contact us here.

A recent piece on GreetechMedia.com describes how California based third-party logistics provider Dreisbach Enterprises has seen cost savings and performance improvements after installing Viking Cold’s long-duration thermal energy storage (TES) technology.

Jason Dreisbach, the owner of Dreisbach Enterprises, explains why his company selected Viking Cold’s technology from a range of available energy-efficiency and demand-response programs.

“What Viking Cold has allowed us to do is [to avoid] sub-cooling to the degree that we had, and then ride it out for much longer,” he explains in the report. “Instead of six hours, we ride 12 or 13 hours, six days a week, without turning on our more major compressors.” The result is a 22-month payback period instead of 36, with a range of additional benefits – increased employee comfort, reduced operations and maintenance costs, and improved temperature stability.

The Greentech Media piece also discusses the success of TES technology in the San Diego Food Bank. Since installing Viking Cold’s thermal energy storage system, the food bank has been able to shut down compressors overnight and leverage its onsite solar array to power more of the refrigeration during the day while reducing its morning peak to generate energy savings of nearly 40%.

The business landscape for long-duration thermal energy storage is shifting, the story reports. Dozens of utilities now offer incentives to support the installation of TES technologies, the TES market is growing, and Viking Cold’s sales teams see increasing numbers of inbound inquiries.

As James Bell, President and CEO of Viking Cold Solutions, is quoted as saying,  “Down the road, I see this looking like insulation did 100 years ago. Now you wouldn’t even consider a building without insulation. Going forward, why would anyone build a temperature-controlled facility without the efficiency and resiliency of TES?”

To read the full story, click here. Or contact us today to learn how our long-duration storage solution will save you energy and money.

This article on MicrogridKnowledge.com highlights the growing application of Thermal Energy Storage (TES) in refrigeration applications to lower the energy demand and the energy consumption of commercial and industrial refrigerated facilities. A number of Viking Cold projects are referenced including a California Energy Commission program inside a Whole Foods store with the goal of a Net Zero grocery store, pairing TES with onsite solar generation, and a demand management program with Massachusettes’ largest utility – Eversource.

Online and print publication Energy CIO Insights features Viking Cold’s technology and the energy flexibility it provides through an interview with our

CEO, James Bell.

James describes how our Thermal Energy Storage (TES) technology protects food, saves energy in the global cold chain, and benefits utilities.

Viking Cold’s Thermal Energy Storage technology was recently featured on UtilityDive.com. The article discusses how Viking Cold’s thermal energy storage (TES) technology provides an alternative storage technology for alternative energy sources.

Utility Dive provides professionals with a bird’s-eye-view of the utility industry through industry news, original analysis, and published in-depth feature articles.

Viking Cold Solutions has been named as one of Energy CIO Insights‘ Top Ten Energy Storage System Providers for 2018. We are proud to join this prestigious list along side companies like ABB, Fluence (a Siemens and AES company), LG Chem, Toshiba, and other energy storage pioneers.