Ice-based thermal energy storage used to help cool India's milk supply

September 18, 2015

As India continues to update its power infrastructure by increasing reliance on solar power, technologies like thermal energy storage have seen more widespread application, according to CleanTechnica. Energy storage is being used frequently as a means of supplementing renewables and bridging the gap when intermittency threatens the grid's reliability.

These utility updates have not been the only opportunities to apply thermal energy storage in India - the nation's unique combination of a demanding climate and a need for additional infrastructure improvements has created a scenario wherein customer-level availability of electricity is not always predictable. As a result of the problems facing India's dairy industry, the advantages of thermal energy storage have quickly made the technology an essential part of the business. This novel application also shows striking similarities to solutions already in use on U.S. soil.

Thermal energy storage perfect for supplementing intermittent solar
Much of India's dairy industry is closely connected to rural farmers who deliver their stock to regional collection centers. Service from the power grid is especially inconsistent in more remote areas, so massive amounts of the nation's milk supply are at risk for spoiling when these collection centers are hit by rolling blackouts, according to Greentech Media. Diesel backup generators have become cost-prohibitive for most centers, resulting in industry decision-makers investing in a more innovative alternative.

Collection centers now deploy ice-based thermal energy storage technology as a means of preparing for days when solar generation and grid performance prove to be unreliable. The tanks allow electricity to be stored in the form of ice, then melted to cool the milk when grid malfunctions send the center's normal cooling operations offline.

Storage seen as preferable to diesel generation
According to the MIT Technology Review, thermal energy storage has proven to be a very effective alternative to fossil fuel generation. One dairy collection center reported saving over 40,000 rupees (approximately $622.42 U.S.) in diesel fuel on a monthly basis. Reduced risk of product spoilage has also allowed the factory to ramp up its daily milk production by several hundred liters.

These savings point toward the reliability of energy storage, especially phase-changing applications like ice-based thermal storage, when it comes to consistently storing and delivering power when the facility needs it the most. Thermal energy storage provides facilities with the ability to purchase and store electricity when it's most convenient for their business, and flexibility has proven to be a serious advantage over the pollution and high cost associated with diesel generation. 

Similar principles at use to cool entire buildings in U.S.
The application of ice-based thermal energy storage in Indian dairy collection centers is also notable because it shares myriad similarities with hundreds of office buildings and campuses using similar technology to supplement their air conditioning systems. Instead of cooling milk, solutions like CALMAC's IceBank® are able to chill building interiors by freezing water into ice and distributing that cooling throughout the facility during the hottest parts of the day. Several high-profile facilities have already saved hundreds of thousands of dollars by adopting CALMAC's technology, including Rockefeller Center in New York, said Forbes.

In addition to acting as insurance for buildings in blackout-vulnerable parts of the country like California, ice-based thermal energy storage from CALMAC is also used as a way of helping facilities reduce their electricity costs. Purchasing electricity to make ice at night allows businesses and schools to circumvent expensive peak-time energy costs and cool their campuses at a fraction of the cost. Given the adaptability and scale of thermal energy storage solutions, it's no surprise the technology is being utilized worldwide.