Ice Energy, Windsor, CO, a leading provider of intelligent energy storage to the electric utility industry, has announced a strategic relationship with Trane. Together, the two companies will develop and deliver energy storage-compatible, high-efficiency commercial air conditioning solutions.

Select Trane rooftop models, ranging from 4-to 20-tons, will be shipped "Ice-Ready" by Trane, for seamless integration and optimal performance with Ice Energy's Ice Bear® energy storage systems.

The two companies will also work together to offer new, high-efficiency air conditioning systems to key national accounts, and other customers who are building new, or seeking to replace or upgrade their existing systems in conjunction with an energy storage installation.

Sources say pairing high-efficiency Trane commercial packaged HVAC systems with Ice Energy’s distributed energy storage technology on small to mid-sized commercial buildings enables a powerful change in how and when energy is consumed for air conditioning. The combined solution will help commercial customers reduce on-peak electricity demand, increase energy efficiency, and reduce their building’s environmental footprint.

"Combining Ice Bear energy storage with high-efficiency Trane systems represents an exciting new approach to helping our customers shift their peak electricity demand," says Tom Troyanek, director, sourced product development for Trane. "They can now take advantage of more efficient nighttime power to provide daytime cooling, which can lower energy costs without sacrificing occupants' comfort."

"We're pleased to align with Trane to offer a turnkey solution for virtual 'plug and play' integration with our products and controls," says Brian Parsonnet, chief technology officer for Ice Energy. "Companies like Trane are an integral part of the ecosystem we are building to deliver a scalable, reliable and cost-effective solution to utilities for addressing the problem of peak demand.

The Ice Bear system stores energy at night by freezing water in an insulated storage tank. During the day it works with the Ice-Ready™ air conditioning systems to dispatch the stored energy to deliver cooling to the building, dramatically reducing the amount of electricity required on peak. During off-peak hours, the conventional HVAC system operates as usual.