Welcome on Board Evapco Europe

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member, Evapco Europe, who joined EASE in May 2022. Mr Rob Vandenboer Technical Director at Evapco Europe accepted to discuss with us the expertise of Evapco Europe, in energy storage and their expectations from this collaboration with EASE.

EASE: Mr Vandenboer, thank you very much for accepting this interview. We are very happy to have Evapco Europe among our members and we would like to know more about your activities in the sector. Could you summarise the most interesting insights from the work of your company for energy storage?

A major part of the available electrical energy is used for air conditioning, cooling of industrial processes and for securing the cold chain in the food industry. In the previous century, the potential of thermal Ice storage was recognized only as a tool to optimize the energy bill. Times have changed. The potential of thermal ice storage is available for every individual building, every city block, or for all processes that require cooling. With an extended scope of thermal ice storage, the user can aim for a multi-day period instead of the typical 24 hours and fit the production of cold to the availability of renewable energy sources. Integration of compact thermal ice storage in a European building code would benefit both the end-user and the grid instantaneously.

EASE: We look forward to a very fruitful collaboration with you and to receiving Evapco Europe inputs for our Working Groups and Task Forces. What created the interest of your company to join EASE?

Energy storage is typically associated with electrical storage. However, EASE clearly recognizes the potential of complementary technologies. Storing electricity is of course the most logical choice when electricity is needed for later. However, storing electrical energy to produce cold can be done more efficiently by integrating cold storage in the buildings cooling system and store the cold directly. EASE’s insight and open-minded approach to including all available technologies was crucial in our decision to join the organisation.

EASE: What is your vision for how energy storage can contribute to the energy transition?

Integration of Thermal Ice storage for new HVAC systems will immediately create a compact, simple, safe, cost-efficient and 100% recyclable solution for storing energy behind-the-meter. With a targeted incentive, this process can start immediately and offers the potential to complement electrical storage.

On a larger scale, district ice storage plants can offer a compact solution for industrial areas where large-scale renewable energy sources are directly available. Avoid curtailment and use the available RES to immediately produce the cold that is required for the industrial zone.

In general, electrical energy is always required to produce mechanical cooling. Produce this cooling when renewable energy is available and store it in ice until required.

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