Every night, Norton Audubon Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky, freezes about 74,000 gallons (280,000 liters) of water.
The hospital once relied entirely on a conventional air conditioning system like those found in most U.S. buildings. Now, 27 tanks of ice power a network of cold-water pipes that keep operating rooms at safe temperatures and patients comfortable.
This thermal energy storage, also called ice batteries, is being installed in U.S. buildings because it provides cool air without producing planet-warming emissions.
These systems lower electricity usage and reduce strain on the grid. With rising temperatures and growing electricity demand, ice thermal energy storage offers a sustainable way to cool buildings.
Trane Technologies, a heating and cooling equipment company, reports a rising demand for this technology over the past few years. Its ice batteries are mainly installed in schools, commercial buildings, and government facilities.
Nostromo Energy, another ice battery manufacturer, targets energy-intensive data centers with high cooling needs. Companies like Ice Energy also produce smaller systems for residential use.
Tanks of ice thaw to create air conditioning
Ice thermal energy storage systems differ by manufacturer but share a common principle: at night, when grid electricity is cheapest, water freezes into ice that thaws the next day to cool the building. The ice chills water circulating through pipes, absorbs heat from rooms, and creates a cooling effect. Air cooled by the system is then circulated through vents.
Norton Audubon Hospital uses a Trane ice battery system. Trane explains that ice batteries often work alongside traditional AC, using ice-based cooling to cut energy costs during peak demand. Traditional AC units are usually left in place or downsized when ice batteries are added.
The stored ice requires no energy to thaw, easing the grid and reducing the building’s electricity use, which lowers monthly bills.
“Storing energy for further uses is where we’re going with the future of the grid,” said Ted Tiffany, senior technical lead at the Building Decarbonization Coalition. He added that access to air conditioning is a major public health need, made worse by a warming planet, and ice batteries provide a sustainable solution to extreme heat risks.
Energy costs at Norton Audubon fell by $278,000 in the first year after installing the ice battery system in 2018. The hospital estimates the system and other energy-saving measures have saved nearly $4 million since 2016.
“The technology has been awesome for us,” said Anthony Mathis, a Norton Healthcare sustainability executive. He noted that other building operators frequently inquire about the system and expects adoption to grow as awareness increases.
Using ice to meet growing energy demands
Sustainable energy experts say ice thermal energy storage is a practical option for commercial buildings to reduce electricity demand or store surplus energy. Some buildings rely on lithium batteries, which store intermittent solar or wind energy.
Dustin Mulvaney, environmental studies professor at San Jose State University, said ice batteries are especially suitable for healthcare facilities and senior homes, as lithium batteries carry fire risks.
Manufacturers also see potential in data centers, which are expanding to support AI and require significant energy and cooling. A December Department of Energy report found that U.S. data centers consumed over 4% of electricity in 2023, potentially rising to 12% by 2028.
“Data centers are very energy-hungry, and 30% to 40% of that energy goes to cooling … that’s where a solution like ours could really help,” said Yoram Ashery, CEO of Nostromo Energy.
Nostromo is negotiating deals to install its systems with major data center operators and uses its ice battery technology at the Beverly Hills Hotel in California.
California leads the market for this technology because its grid relies heavily on solar power during the day but switches to polluting sources like natural gas after sunset. Ice batteries can provide air conditioning in the late afternoon and evening without drawing from the grid.
“A lot of utilities are very interested in this load-shifting technology,” said Joe Raasch, COO at Ice Energy. He explained that summer is the most expensive time for utilities due to high AC demand.
“It’s really great technology that the grid needs because much of the future electric load will be driven by cooling,” Raasch added.
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