Blue Frontier, in collaboration with NREL, is offering a new solution to lower a building’s electric bill and help reduce demand on the grid: the Energy Storing and Efficient Air Conditioner (ESEAC). Designed for commercial use, ESEAC integrates energy storage, cooling, and humidity control into a single system, cutting peak air conditioning power demand by more than 90% and lowering electricity bills for cooling by more than 45%.
ESEAC takes a different approach to air conditioning- while conventional air conditioners use vapor-compression refrigeration, cooling and dehumidifying air simultaneously, ESEAC separates dehumidification from active cooling by using a liquid desiccant system that absorbs moisture directly from the air, then using ultraefficient indirect evaporative air conditioning to precisely cool down the air. The system stores energy in saltwater and pure waters, costing roughly 10 times less than battery-based systems, providing a scalable, lower-cost way to manage cooling loads.
With early backing from Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Volo Earth, 2150, Modern Niagara, and major utilities, ESEAC systems are being installed at sites across the United States, including U.S. Army Fort Benning, Jackson Memorial Hospital, Valencia College, and more.
Read all about it here: Cooler Buildings, Stronger Grid: A New Approach to Air Conditioning With Built-In Energy Storage | NREL