Illustration of the development trend of energy storage air conditioners

Will rethinking air conditioning be enough?

Just rethinking air conditioning won’t be enough to meet the massive increase in energy demand for cooling, which could triple between now and 2050. To both do that and cut emissions, we’ll still need significantly more renewable energy capacity as well as gigantic battery installations on the grid.

Should air conditioners be able to charge themselves during peak demand hours?

During peak demand hours, air conditioners can account for over half the total demand on the grid in some parts of the world today. New cooling technologies that incorporate energy storage could help by charging themselves when renewable electricity is available and demand is low, and still providing cooling services when the grid is stressed.

Will thermal energy storage become a standard feature in the future?

“If you think about the big picture—more renewable power into the grid, more adverse weather events, more electrification of our economy—thermal energy storage plays a very significant role, and I think it could become a standard feature in the near future,” says Liu. But it isn’t just warmer areas that could benefit.

Do new technologies store cooling power?

New technologies store cooling power for when it’s needed most. As temperatures climb on hot days, many of us are quick to crank up our fans or air conditioners. These cooling systems can be a major stress on electrical grids, which has inspired some inventors to create versions that can store energy as well as use it.

How can cooling-related energy demand be influenced?

However, there is an enormous opportunity to quickly influence the growth of cooling-related energy demand through policies to improve equipment efficiency.

Can energy storage help the energy grid?

New cooling technologies that incorporate energy storage could help by charging themselves when renewable electricity is available and demand is low, and still providing cooling services when the grid is stressed. “We say, take the problem, and turn it into a solution,” says Yaron Ben Nun, founder and chief technology officer of Nostromo Energy.