NRG Energy and Ice Energy are partnering on energy storage to reduce California’s peak energy demand.
Southern California Edison (SCE) recently awarded 20-year contracts for NRG Energy to provide 0.5 MW of behind-the-meter energy storage and for Ice Energy to provide 25.6 MW of behind-the meter energy storage. NRG was also awarded 178 MW of demand response and energy efficiency products by SCE.
The companies will work together to deliver the peak energy reductions associated with these contracts, using Ice Energy’s proprietary Ice Bear technology. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Subject to final approval from the California Public Utilities Commission, about 1,800 Ice Bear units will be installed in Orange County beginning in early 2016. Attaching to one or more standard 5-20 ton rooftop commercial AC units, the Ice Bears freeze ice at night when demand for power is low and capacity is abundant, and then use stored ice during the day to provide cooling instead of using power-intensive AC compressors.