Progressive Grocer has published an article outlining the not-to-distant future of sustainable grocery store refrigeration.  Numerous technologies from companies like Viking Cold, Emerson, Honeywell, and CoolSys are referenced as the key to what is rapidly becoming the new normal in grocery stores: improved refrigeration sustainability.

Those in the cold storage biz know that more thermal mass inside a freezer allows that freezer to float, or flywheel, longer without active refrigeration. But is food the right thermal mass to use to cut energy costs?  Can flywheeling periods be even longer?  Can more energy be saved?  Can it be done without using food as the thermal battery?  Read the full article published on FoodDive.com to learn how thermal energy storage improves the economic benefits of flywheeling without requiring additional energy or risking the quality of the food we put on our tables every day.

Viking Cold is proud to have been selected as one of Food Logistics’ annual Top Green Providers for the third year in a row.  We love that we are again being recognized for improving sustainability, adding resiliency, and better protecting food throughout the global cold chain. This year’s list showcases companies that have found new ways to promote sustainability throughout their operations and for their customers. Winners consists of 3PLs, technology companies, transportation providers, cold storage providers and many more that have upped their game to become leaders in the sustainable global food supply chain.

ENERGY-SAVING THERMAL STORAGE SYSTEMS SUCCESSFULLY DEPLOYED IN WAREHOUSES OWNED BY LOGISTICS COMPANIES, FOODSERVICE DISTRIBUTORS, FOOD PROCESSORS, AND NON-PROFITS

HOUSTON and BOSTON (GLOBE NEWS WIRE) – Viking Cold Solutions, the leading thermal energy storage provider for low-temperature cold storage industries, has completed the installation of eight Thermal Energy Storage (TES) systems as part of a utility-backed demand management program in Massachusetts. These eight behind-the-meter TES systems store and facilitate management of approximately 1.3 megawatts (MW) of energy onsite, and do not require any additional real estate for the system components. The average size of the cold storage facilities in the program is approximately 50,000 square feet, with the largest being 157,000 square feet.

Installation time averaged 127 days from agreement to commissioning and removal of demand from the grid. The Greater Boston Food Bank was the first TES installation of the demand management program, which also includes industrial facilities owned by the world’s largest third-party cold storage company, the world’s largest foodservice distributor, and numerous frozen food processing companies.

Energy is the second highest direct operating cost for cold storage operators, who must run their refrigeration systems nearly 24 hours per day. Additionally, these facilities have the highest energy demand per cubic foot of any industrial category on the grid. Viking Cold’s TES systems not only store enough energy to cycle off refrigeration for up to 13 hours per day to avoid time-of-use and demand charges, they also improve the existing refrigeration systems’ efficiency and reduce consumption by more than 25 percent.

Read More →

The May 2019 edition of Food Logistics includes an article outlining the risks of using frozen food as a battery for flywheeling. The article also discusses using Viking Cold’s Thermal Energy Storage systems as an alternative temperature capacitor to achieve even better flywheeling results, reduce the risks of flywheeling, and provide additional benefits. Utility-sponsored programs that can subsidize or entirely cover the system and installation costs are also discussed.

Grocery Business recently published an interview with Viking Cold’s VP of Sales & Marketing, Collin Coker as part of their 2019 Equipment & Design Annual Report. The Annual Report is a comprehensive guide to help retailers create efficient, productive, tech-enabled stores. Coker outlines how Thermal Energy Storage adds efficiency to refrigeration, how our system’s thermal mass is different from the thermal mass of the food, and other benefits beyond saving energy.

Energy Analyst, Matt Chester of Energy Central, an online power industry publication,  interviewed Viking Cold’s Marketing Director, Damon Vance, about our recent PLMA Technology Pioneer Award. Here is the full interview: Using Thermal Energy Storage as a Grid Asset: Interview with Viking Cold Solutions, Winner of PLMA Technology Pioneer Award.

Engineered System’s Editor-in-Chief, Herb Woerpel, interviewed Viking Cold’s VP of Sales & Marketing, Collin Coker, to discuss the state of the thermal energy storage market, Viking Cold Solutions’ role in that market, and more.

Peak Load Management Alliance has announced its eight recipients of the 16th annual PLMA awards. Viking Cold has been named a Technology Pioneer being recognized as an industry leader who created innovative ideas, methods, programs, and technologies to meet peak load needs and support successful grid integration of distributed energy resources during calendar year 2018.  Click here to learn more about PLMA awards.

An article on the Grocery Business website describes the importance of understanding multiple categories of sustainability standards and why each Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 emissions goals are important for grocers to remain competitive. Learn more about the expectations of customers, competitors, investors, and even CPG brands for grocers to improve their sustainability.