June 9, 2009 -- Ice Energy, a provider of distributed energy storage and Smart Grid systems for optimizing energy system efficiency, has teamed with Data Aire, a provider of computer room air conditioning systems, to offer an energy storage platform specifically developed to address peak cooling loads in data and telecom centers.
The companies have completed compatibility testing of Ice Energy's Ice Bear distributed energy storage system with Data Aire's Data Temp cooling systems to deliver an integrated hybrid cooling platform that enables data and telecom centers to slash on-peak electricity demand, better manage energy costs, and reduce a building's environmental footprint.
Unlike load management cycling or curtailment programs that can negatively impact reliability and availability - and are not acceptable solutions for "always-on" data and telecom centers - Ice Energy says its 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 company's 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, the hybrid system surpasses the overall efficiency and performance of conventional equipment alone, according to the companies.
"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," says 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," adds 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 joint 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.
On the Web:
www.ice-energy.com
www.dataaire.com