The capacity to deliver continuous electricity for refrigeration is one of the central planks of the modern-day food distribution system.
Using fossil fuel-generated energy to refrigerate and freeze foods around the clock produces a lot of pollution – carbon and greenhouse gas emissions that are warming the global climate, as well as emissions of a range of potentially toxic chemicals that deplete the ozone layer and wind up in our waterways and soil.
The capacity to deliver continuous electricity for refrigeration is one of the central planks of the modern-day food distribution system.
Using fossil fuel-generated energy to refrigerate and freeze foods around the clock produces a lot of pollution – carbon and greenhouse gas emissions that are warming the global climate, as well as emissions of a range of potentially toxic chemicals that deplete the ozone layer and wind up in our waterways and soil.
Enter Berkeley, California-based Axiom Energy and its Refrigeration Battery: a water- and ice-based backup cooling system designed for use in large supermarkets and food distribution facilities. The system is now available in California, Axiom announced last week.
The system offers “behind the meter,” or customer-sited, energy storage — enabling supermarkets and food distributors to store energy at night when demand and utility rates are low and use it for cooling and refrigeration during peak daytime hours when rates are high. This affords these businesses substantial cost savings and hence high returns of investment, Axiom says. Along with the financial gains come substantial health and environmental benefits.
Young woman opening freezer in supermarket image via Shutterstock.
Read more at ENN Affiliate, TriplePundit.
