ICE Energy to collaborate on California solar project

Ice Energy will combine its Ice Bear energy storage technology with photovoltaic solar systems in a pilot project funded by the California Public Utilities Commission. The Windsor-based company is teaming up with SunPower Corp. on the project.

The pilot seeks to determine the efficiencies and benefits of using both energy storage and PV systems to reduce peak energy demand on commercial buildings. Ice Energy is one of three storage companies that will participate in the program, which will be implemented by SunPower in conjunction with PG&E, KEMA, Sandia National Laboratories and a major national retailer.

"Think of it as sun plus ice plus wind," said Greg Tropsa, executive vice president and co-founder of Ice Energy. "All three of these technologies have the potential to be more valuable together than any single one of them alone, and that's what this project sets out to demonstrate."

Tropsa said the Ice Bear units will bridge the gap when the sun goes down, reducing the solar energy output.

"The project will demonstrate that the combination of solar and ice storage will significantly reduce a building's peak demand charge, saving money for the consumer and helping the environment by reducing the need for utilities to dispatch fossil fuel-fired peaking generators," Tropsa said. "The bonus is the Ice Bear storage units are recharged during the off-peak hours, absorbing wind and surplus low-cost base load generation."

The CPUC California Solar Initiative hopes to create 1,940 megawatts of new, solar-produced electricity by 2016, moving the state toward a cleaner energy future and helping to lower the cost of solar systems for consumers.

Northern Colorado Business Report