Challenge: Sustainable heating and cooling supply for the energy transition
Increasing demands for climate-friendly energy supply are setting new standards for heating and cooling technology. Planners, operators and owners of residential buildings, hospitals, industrial facilities and other infrastructure projects are faced with the challenge of finding heating and cooling solutions that are both economically and ecologically viable.
Modern heat pump systems are a key technology for the energy transition, but their proper use depends largely on a climate-friendly and efficient energy source, as well as heating and cooling temperatures that do not deviate significantly from average indoor temperatures. While the use of geothermal probes or groundwater heat pumps is often associated with regulatory requirements or geological restrictions, ice storage systems offer a flexible, sustainable and powerful alternative.
Ice storage tanks meet the requirements of cold district heating
Ice storage tanks are an ideal heat source for cold district heating networks, as they provide a decentralized supply of efficiently usable environmental energy. Unlike conventional district heating systems, which operate at high temperatures, so-called 5th generation district heating and cooling uses low temperatures (typically 5-20°C), which reduces heat losses and allows for optimal integration of renewable energy sources.
Functional role of the ice storage tank
- The ice storage tank serves as a central or decentralized energy source for a low temperature district heating network and feeds in heat from environmental energy (e.g. solar thermal energy or waste heat).
- Heat pumps in the connected buildings use the low temperature level of the local heat to efficiently generate heating energy.
- The simultaneous production of cold can be used directly for cooling buildings or for process cooling.
Take the pressure off the energy infrastructure
- Decentralized heat generation eliminates the need for high flow temperatures, allowing the heating network to operate efficiently and with lower energy losses.
- Ice storage systems allow flexible temporary storage of excess energy and prevent peak loads in the electricity supply.
- The combination with solar thermal, photovoltaic surpluses or industrial waste heat ensures a continuous regeneration of the heat source.
1 Process waste heat from solar thermal, PV surplus or industrial excess heat
2 sp.ICE ice storage for flexible temporary storage of surplus energy
3 Heating circuit supplies connected buildings with cold district heating (usually 5-20 °C)
4 Heat pumps use the low temperature level of local heat to efficiently generate heating energy. At the same time, cooling energy is generated.
5 Cooling circuit cooling energy can be used for building cooling or industrial process cooling
Integrate as a pendulum or seasonal storage system
Ice storage systems can be used in cold district heating networks either as a pendulum storage system for short-term energy needs or as a seasonal storage system for long-term use of environmental energy.
Ice storage as a pendulum storage system
- Ideal for areas with daily or weekly fluctuations in heating and cooling demand (e.g. commercial buildings, office buildings, data centers).
- Storage and provision of energy within short cycles, e.g. by using PV surplus or waste heat.
Ice storage as seasonal storage
- Long-term storage of environmental energy over the seasons to provide surplus heat in summer for use in winter.
- Ideal for residential areas, hospitals or universities that require a sustainable annual energy balance.
Advantages of sp.ICE technology - We provide the required heating or cooling energy at very high speed
The features of the sp.ICE technology make our ice storage system particularly interesting for cold district heating:
- High storage capacity - Long-lasting heating and cooling supply for different applications
- Fast charging - Storage of excess energy from solar thermal energy or waste heat
- Modular & flexible - Adaptable to different sizes and shapes, suitable for new builds and retrofitting
- Regenerative energy source - Independent of groundwater or geological conditions, can also be used in water protection areas
- Efficient dual use - The cold generated during freezing can be used directly for cooling buildings or processes
- Ideal for cold local heating networks - Reduces heat losses and enables efficient decentralized energy supply
- Use as a shuttle storage tank or seasonal storage tank - Flexible adaptation to local supply requirements
sp.ICE ice storage systems make central heating and cooling solutions economical and sustainable and stand for a future-proof solution with cold district heating.
Our engineers are experienced in developing concepts for modern anergy grids. Send us your project idea. We will support you with planning and implementation.
