Stasis Energy Group Thermal Energy Storage System (TESS) for Packaged HVAC Systems
Stasis Energy Group LLC
Recipient
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Recipient Location
29th
Senate District
50th
Assembly District
$1,583,300
Amount Spent
Active
Project Status
Project Update
In 2024, Stasis Energy Group successfully completed the project, which included thermal energy storage system installations at ten (10) sites across California. The project final report is awaiting publication in 2025. The results were significant and as predicted. Late day demand was reduced by 60%, peak period energy use was shifted by 53% to off peak, energy efficiency gains were 13%, and occupant satisfaction was above 90%. The project sites, from West Sacramento to San Diego, represent a wide variety of businesses, HVAC equipment, climate zones, and occupancy profiles. Nine of the ten sites are DAC/LIC underserved communities. Changes in logic and installation techniques were identified in this project that will result in improvements to performance benefits and faster return on first costs via utility bill savings. Due in part to the success of this project, the CEC awarded Stasis a RAMP (Realizing Accelerated Manufacturing and Production) grant, which will facilitate market penetration and scaling manufacturing of this novel technology.
The Issue
California’s climate goals will require reduction of peak period electric usage, when Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions are highest. Reducing energy use in existing buildings will be crucial to achieving these goals. Flexible distributed energy resources (DERs) can help California succeed in this transition, and these DERs require thermal batteries such as thermal energy storage systems (TESS), electric batteries, and other types of resources. New products and technologies, such as the Recipient’s TESS, must be developed and introduced to the market to reach these goals. Benefits to California’s energy providers and utilities must include reduction in peak energy use when power is the most expensive and when generating power has the highest carbon intensity. Benefits must be shared with ratepayers in the form of lower utility bills.
Packaged HVAC roof-top equipment services as much as 70% of California’s light commercial floor space, accounting for more than 22 billion kWh per year. Up to 95% of these RTUs, approximately 5 million tons of HVAC capacity, are sized at 10 tons or less. Most units have 10-20 years of service life remaining. Few, if any, technologies adequately and economically address this large market. Late afternoon and evening energy used by commercial buildings' RTUs have proven to be a hard-to-reach segment of California’s electricity usage.
Project Innovation
This project supports the deployment and demonstration of Thermal Energy Storage Systems (TESS) for packaged HVAC systems at ten commercial buildings, more than half of which are located in disadvantaged or low-income communities. Stasis Energy Group will demonstrate peak shifting performance of its TESS across a wide range of roof-top unit types, climate zones, and buildings. This solution is intended to be easily and economically installed or retrofitted into existing packaged HVAC systems to provide a cost-effective solution. In addition, the proposed technology aims to reduce utility bills for building owners, promote grid resilience by shifting electricity load away from peak hours, and to improve the payback period.
Project Goals
Project Benefits
This project supports development of a first-of-its-kind thermal energy storage system technology. The project targets a critical and hard-to-reach segment of electricity usage - 4-9 pm - for packaged roof-top HVAC systems, when energy demand is highest and renewable generation is diminishing. The technology addresses electricity usage in three ways during the summer 4-9pm peak period: 60% peak demand reduction, 50%-55% load shift from peak to off-peak period, and 8%-15% energy efficiency savings with cloud-based controls. Savings delivered in non-summer periods align with measured summer savings. Significant GHG savings are realized because TESS is charged by sustainable energy during normal cooling operations and deployed during the highest cost energy period late in the day. The thermal storage material is a natural, bio-based product and the aluminum packaging of the thermal storage material is made of 75% recycled metal.
Affordability
The proposed technology is intended to lower electricity costs of business owners by shifting their use out of peak periods.
Reliability
The product aims to simplify the challenge facing grid operators by increasing use of daytime renewable energy and reducing use of late-afternoon and evening ramp-up energy, thus reducing the risk of energy shortages.
Subrecipients
RMS Energy Consulting, LLC
Intertek USA Inc.
Build Smart Group LLC
Winn Energy Controls
Greer Burns & Crain
Rowan Engineering
Match Partners
PureTemp LLC
