Overview:
yet2’s client is seeking innovative thermal energy storage solutions and phase change materials for industrial scale refrigerated warehouse facilities to reduce electricity consumption and manage peak demand charges. The organization currently operates cold storage facilities with freezer, cooler, and blast freeze areas.
Background:
This organization operates multiple refrigerated warehouse facilities across the United States with a strategic goal of achieving 100% renewable energy by 2030 and annual energy efficiency improvements. Facilities face complex utility rate structures with high demand charges and time-of-use pricing, making load shifting and peak demand management critical for cost control and decarbonization. Currently, the organization employs manual refrigeration system management for load shifting.
Areas of Interest:
- Phase change material systems such as glycol-based solutions for cold storage applications
- Thermal energy storage systems specifically designed for different temperature zones: blast freeze areas (down to -40°F), freezer areas, and cooler areas
- Technologies designed to increase the efficiency of blast-freezing food products.
Technical Requirements / Constraints:
- Food-grade materials for any components with potential product contact
- Compliance with cold storage industry safety and food safety regulations
- Solutions must preserve structural integrity of facilities and racking systems
- Solutions should not compete with or limit warehouse storage capacity
- Preference is given to systems compatible with rack-mounting or alternative configurations that avoid taking up floor/pallet space
- Technologies should have demonstrated scalability (or the potential to scale) to industrial refrigeration loads (600-800 tons cooling capacity)
Image by Freepik
