Ice, Austin Energy Team Up For Distributed Energy Storage Pilot Project

Published: 12-Mar-2010

Ice Energy, a provider of advanced energy storage for the electric utility industry, has installed a distributed energy storage pilot project, in conjunction with Austin Energy, at the South Austin Recreational Center, located in South-Central Austin.

Ice Energy said that its Ice Bear distributed energy storage system is specifically developed for deployment on small to mid-sized commercial buildings, storing clean energy off peak, and delivering it on peak, at the site of consumption.

The company added that with widespread deployment of these units, it could improve energy system efficiency, while absorbing off-peak wind generation and balancing Austin's growing number of solar arrays.

In addition, Ice Bear's built-in Smart Grid Controller also remotely monitors and dispatches the units to provide real-time, verifiable load control, contributing to Austin Energy's Smart Grid 2.0. The project will also help Austin Energy assess its plans for further energy storage installations, the company claimed.

Ice Energy is also a participant in the Pecan Street Project, Austin's clean-energy initiative, which recently received $10.4m from the Department of Energy and will include energy storage at their Mueller Airport redevelopment project.

John McGee, chief operating officer of Ice Energy, said: "The Texas load profile is ideally suited for this type of energy storage. The large, thermally-driven summer peak, coupled with substantial renewable generation and an advanced Smart Grid installation, enable the Ice Energy solution to deliver a high level of value, right when the grid can benefit the most."

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