Stasis Energy Group systems basically freeze a medium such as water during non-peak energy periods during the day, later using it to cool buildings at peak demand time. Photo contributed

If California is going to meet its carbon neutrality goal by 2045, it’s going to need energy sources beyond solar and wind power.

A Southern California company with ties to Fresno State is developing proprietary technology for thermal energy storage, with state incentives bringing opportunities for business owners in disadvantaged communities.

Rancho Cucamonga-based Stasis Energy Group creates thermal energy storage for use with commercial HVAC systems. Founded in 2019, Stasis is a member of the Water, Energy and Technology Center at Fresno State.

Recently, the California Public Utilities Commission’s (CPUC) Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP), which provides incentives to support existing new, and emerging distributed energy resources, added thermal storage incentives for community members at any site in disadvantaged communities for free.

Robert Morton, CEO and president of Stasis, said SGIP is an opportunity for businesses to participate in the green energy revolution, lower electrical demand, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save money.

“I always felt this product would be ideal for deployment in disadvantage business areas,” said Morton. “The Central Valley gets overlooked a lot of the time.”

 

How it works

Thermal energy storage refers to the heating or cooling of a medium, such as water or air, to use the energy when needed later. Thermal energy storage can also be used to balance energy consumption between day and night.

Depending on which technology is used, thermal energy storage systems (TESS) can store excess thermal energy for hours, days or months.

TESS are divided into three types: sensible thermal, latent heat and thermochemical heat. Stasis’ TESS is a thermochemical heat system.

Thermal energy storage was first used in the 1960s, but it was limited to using chilled water systems or ice systems. Cold water is used to cool the refrigerant that gets routed through a building.

Through chemical reaction with phase-change material (PCM) — a substance that releases/absorbs energy at phase transition like when a solid transitions to water or vice versa — Stasis’ TESS uses the energy for heating or cooling.

Instead of using energy to cool down the air during peak energy usage hours in the day, energy used is to blow air over a 60-degree block of ice through the vents of the HVAC system

Stasis’ storage space is installed to a portion of a building’s air ducts and an advanced controller is installed to the HVAC system on the roof, which gives instructions to the unit to use the thermal storage.

Morton said other companies have tried to use PCM to deliver thermal storage, but they have all given up for one reason or another.

“We are the first to crack this code,” he said.

 

Air of business

Morton said Stasis targets commercial building open after 4 p.m., as the peak hours of energy usage are 4-9 p.m. Wind and solar energy contributions to the grid go to almost zero after 4 p.m., he added.

Any commercial building will incur added energy demand charges after 4 p.m. Stasis is trying to reduce the economic impact by reducing demand.

The ideal buildings for Stasis TESS are light commercial office spaces, retail centers and light industrial buildings open after 4 pm.

Working in disadvantage communities will help Stasis grow, Morton said, as there is a big need and less competition.

At the time, the system is not viable for residential, but it will get to that point, Morton said.

“This is an example of the Energy Commission filling out its promise. They are really serious about providing assistance and equity to the point of significant increases in funding. That’s why we are so excited,” Morton said.

 

Battery storage

Another rising trend in the green revolution are solar battery storage systems.

Solar batteries store the extra electricity that is generated from solar panels.

Excess electricity can be exported to the grid, and also be pulled directly from the grid when more electricity is being used than produced by a solar panel system.

Chris Moran, CEO of Solar Negotiators in Fresno, said that the demand for battery storage, especially for residential, has spiked in recent years in comparison to when he first opened the solar company 14 years ago.

Back then, batteries were limited to mostly off-grid or remote areas, or for people with specific grid independent needs. It was not very affordable.

Awareness of battery storage shot up about five years ago, Moran said. Since then, customer interest has doubled.

A barrier for some time was the affordability of a battery storage system, but competition and improvements in manufacturing have made it more affordable.

With California regulations requiring solar panel installation on new homes, having a solar energy system without battery storage means you’re not getting a full return on investment, Morton said.

Net energy metering (NEM) credits solar energy system owners for the electricity they add to the grid. Last year, the CPUC voted to approve California’s third iteration of NEM, which reduced net metering compensation rates for new solar customers by about 75%.

“There are now hours of the day where if you push power to the grid, it may be worth only 10% of its normal value, Moran said. “You protect your investment and get the best possible return by having small battery storage so extra power doesn’t escape to the grid. It’s put in the battery reservoir and later used in the evening.”

People who have experience power outages recently might have a higher interest in investing in battery storage than those who have not experienced them, Moran said. People in rural areas are more interested in being grid independent than those in the city.

While battery storage will reduce emissions, it does not account for its byproducts that are not safe for the environment.

In 15-20 years, batteries will need to be replaced, and there are some unanswered questions on how they will be disposed. Batteries contain lead, cadmium, arsenic and cobalt and other materials that may be harmful to human health and the environment at high levels.

The environmental impact of utilizing battery storage and solar energy will definitely help reduce carbon emissions from fossil fuels, but with the slow adoption of battery storage, it’s going to be sometime before it is of significance, he said.