EnergiVault®: Smarter Thermal Energy Storage for Cooling Efficiency and Cost Reduction
Bob Long, founder and Executive Chairman of Organic Heat Exchangers (O-Hx), explains how EnergiVault® – a cutting-edge cold thermal energy storage system – is reshaping the way organisations reduce energy costs, cut carbon emissions, and improve operational resilience.
The Growing Need for Smarter Cooling
The global demand for cooling is putting increasing pressure on electrical grids. Rising urban populations and climate change are key drivers. O-Hx was founded in 2016 to meet this challenge with more sustainable energy solutions – and thermal energy storage was at the heart of that mission.
Electricity still powers most modern cooling. While providers aim to increase renewable energy supply, it often can’t meet baseload demand. That’s a barrier to true decarbonisation.
Carbon intensity measures how clean electricity is. Fossil fuels produce high levels of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour. In contrast, renewable sources have far lower carbon intensity and emissions.
What Is EnergiVault®?
EnergiVault® is a globally patented thermal energy storage system that bolts onto existing chilled water systems. It’s ideal for space and process cooling in sectors such as food production, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, and data centres.
Using artificial intelligence, EnergiVault® selects low-tariff, low-carbon-intensity electricity to store cooling energy efficiently. This smart control reduces costs while lowering environmental impact.
Key Benefits of EnergiVault®
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Solves site power limitations
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Delivers high peak cooling with low input power
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Reacts instantly to cooling demand
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No degradation over its lifetime
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20+ year battery life
How Thermal Energy Storage Works
EnergiVault® includes a charger and a modular thermal battery – available in 1MWht capacity units. It integrates with existing chilled water systems or can act as a standalone cooling solution. It’s particularly useful in reducing the risk of shutdowns and supports advanced functions like:
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Time-of-use (ToU) energy shifting
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Chiller optimisation
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Heat recovery
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Full site-wide energy monitoring
The system’s crystalliser charges the thermal battery by converting a glycol/water mix into spherical ice crystals. This ice slurry acts as a phase change material (PCM), significantly increasing the surface area for thermal transfer. The result? Faster energy discharge and better thermal performance.
Other systems struggle with low discharge rates due to limited surface area, which means they can’t always meet cooling demand when it matters. EnergiVault® solves this by maintaining an active ice slurry, enabling rapid energy transfer and consistent performance under load.
Each 1MWht unit delivers flexible cooling output — easily sustaining 200kWt for five hours, or ramping up to a peak 500kWt when needed. And if your system needs to react fast? EnergiVault® can go from zero to full 500kWt output in under five seconds, making it ideal for critical applications where responsiveness is key.
Improved Storage, Lower Costs
Recent improvements have increased storage capacity by 25% and reduced system costs. This means faster returns on investment and greater accessibility for more organisations.
EnergiVault® integrates smoothly with chilled water circuits and building management systems. It pulls real-time data from the grid to optimise for the cleanest, cheapest electricity.
How EnergiVault® Saves Money
EnergiVault® uses thermal energy storage to shift energy consumption to off-peak hours. It charges when electricity is cheapest and cleanest, and discharges cooling when needed – even during peak times.
For sites with on-site generation like solar or wind, EnergiVault® maximises self-consumption. It stores unused renewable energy and offsets grid usage when prices are highest.
Heat Recovery Options
EnergiVault® makes the most of waste heat from cooling systems. Instead of rejecting heat into the air, it can be repurposed for:
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Hot water generation
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Space heating
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Industrial processes
With options for both low-grade (40°C) and high-grade (100°C) heat, EnergiVault® helps decouple heating and cooling demand.
Energy Monitoring and Smart Control
EnergiVault® includes full energy monitoring and AI-driven optimisation. It analyses site load and supply data to decide:
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When to charge
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When to turn chillers off
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When to run in parallel
It can even adjust third-party system setpoints to improve energy use and performance across the site.
Better Than Adding Another Chiller
Many sites use EnergiVault® instead of buying an additional chiller. It helps avoid high capital costs and peak power demand. It’s especially useful for locations where power supply is limited or expensive to upgrade.
EnergiVault® provides high-capacity cooling from a low current draw, making it ideal when connection capacity is a constraint.
Flexible, Scalable Cooling for the Future
The modular nature of EnergiVault® allows for tailored installations. You can scale up to meet site-specific cooling needs. Multiple units can be integrated with your current system to enhance resilience, improve sustainability, and boost efficiency.
As demand for thermal energy storage grows, EnergiVault® offers a flexible and future-ready solution.
Want to cut cooling costs, reduce emissions, and improve site resilience?
Get in touch to explore what EnergiVault® can do for you.
