• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Ice Energy Teams With Data Aire to Provide Smart Grid-Ready Energy Storage Solution for Greening Data Centers

Posted on: Monday, 8 June 2009, 15:37 CDT

Integrated installations will enhance energy efficiency, improve peak load management and reduce building's carbon footprint

SANTA CLARA, Calif., June 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Ice Energy, the leading provider of distributed energy storage and smart grid solutions for optimizing energy system efficiency, has teamed with Data Aire, a leading provider of computer room air conditioning systems, to offer the industry's first cost-effective energy storage solution specifically developed to address peak cooling loads in data and telecom centers.

The companies have completed compatibility testing of Ice Energy's Ice Bear(R) distributed energy storage system with Data Aire's Data Temp cooling systems to deliver an integrated hybrid cooling solution that enables data and telecom centers to slash on-peak electricity demand, better manage energy costs, and reduce their building's environmental footprint.

Unlike load management cycling or curtailment programs that can negatively impact reliability and availability - and are simply not acceptable solutions for "always-on" data and telecom centers - Ice Energy's solution transparently shifts energy consumption for cooling from high-impact daytime hours to low-impact nighttime hours - when electricity generation is cleaner, more efficient and less expensive - with no operational or behavioral change.

Using patented technology, the Ice Bear system stores cooling energy at night by freezing water in an insulated storage tank. It cools efficiently during the day by circulating chilled refrigerant from the tank to the Data Aire equipment, eliminating the need to run the energy-intensive compressor and condenser during peak daytime hours. During off-peak hours, the Data Aire cooling system operates as usual. Together, this unique hybrid system surpasses the overall efficiency and performance of conventional equipment alone

"Data centers consume nearly 3% of all the electricity used in this country today, and a significant percentage of that demand is directly attributable to keeping these critical components of the modern digital life cool and running reliably," said Randy Zwetzig, Vice President of Ice Energy. "By providing data centers with a powerful, smart grid ready, cost-effective solution that revolutionizes peak cooling management, Ice Energy and Data Aire have the potential to fundamentally transform data and telecom center efficiency and reliability at a time when it is critically important. We now have a proven system that is not only cost effective and reliable, but also supports environmental initiatives with reduced carbon emissions."

"Managing energy usage and reducing electricity costs has made building cleaner, greener and more sustainable data centers a critical initiative in our industry," said Jeff Trower, General Sales Manager for Data Aire. "Ice Energy offers the first commercially scaled, smart grid ready, distributed energy storage technology to break the link between the need for cooling and the spiraling growth in critical peak demand for electricity in data centers. We were impressed with the Ice Bear's ability to integrate seamlessly with many of Data Aire's cooling systems to dramatically improve peak energy performance."

To further reduce operating costs and spur adoption of the new technology, California utilities PG&E, Southern California Edison, and Anaheim Public Utilities offer programs to help underwrite the cost and installation of Ice Energy's Ice Bear energy storage systems in data and telecom centers throughout their service areas, including both new construction and existing facilities.

The announcement was made in conjunction with Connectivity Week/Gridwise Expo in Santa Clara, where Ice Energy is a sponsor, featured exhibitor and presenter. The company is also one of four finalists for the event's annual Buildy Award in the Smart Grid category. Since 2004, the Buildy Awards have been presented to leaders, visionaries and implementers of smart devices and smart systems in the context of commercial buildings, residential, energy management and other applications.

About Ice Energy

Ice Energy is transforming energy system efficiency and reliability by helping utilities intelligently manage their load profile. The company offers cost-effective smart grid system solutions that integrate proven distributed energy storage, closed loop two-way control, and permanent peak load shifting as a renewable portfolio resource.

With Ice Energy's innovative solution, utilities improve reliability and customer service by reshaping load curves, improving asset utilization, and integrating intermittent renewable resources. Ice Energy provides utilities with a reliable solution for leveling the load profile, controlling costs, and transitioning to a cleaner, smarter, and more sustainable energy system.

For more information, visit www.ice-energy.com.

SOURCE Ice Energy

Source: PR Newswire

More News in this Category