Fafco Partners with Pure Thermal to Bring IceBat Cold Thermal Energy Storage to the UK Market
February 2025 – Fafco, a global leader in thermal energy storage solutions, has appointed Pure Thermal as its exclusive Sales & Technical Partner/Distributor for the UK and Irish markets.
With over 1,400 operational IceBat systems across Europe, Fafco is now bringing its proven Cold Thermal Energy Storage technology to the UK, addressing the increasing demand for cost-effective and resilient cooling solutions.
IceBat: A Game-Changer Delivering Cooling Resilience, Peak Shaving, and Cost + Carbon Savings
The IceBat system is an advanced Cold Thermal Energy Storage (CTES) Phase Change System that enhances cooling system efficiency while significantly reducing operating costs and carbon emissions.
By leveraging low-cost off-peak electricity to create & store cooling energy, IceBat provides a fast-reacting and highly flexible alternative to conventional electrical battery storage, making it particularly suited to the UK’s evolving energy landscape.
Key Benefits of the IceBat System
- Provides cooling system resilience: Reduces the need for oversized chillers/plant while ensuring peak or contingent demands can be satisfied by maintaining predetermined cooling capacity levels for use at any time.
- Enables cooling capacity peak shaving with no additional power supply: Increases on-site cooling capacity from existing systems by accumulating thermal capacity during low demand periods.
- Reduces operating costs via variable/lower electricity tariffs: Maximises use of low-cost electricity by operating chillers/cooling plant when lower cost tariffs are available.
- Provides application flexibility with a range of kWh capacities: IceBat can be applied to various applications with Thermal Battery capacities from 150kWh to 18,000kWh.
- Enables carbon reductions: Improves the efficiency of existing cooling systems by reducing emissions via operating cooling plants when low carbon input electricity is available.
- Seamless integration: Works with existing chiller/cooling plants without requiring independent cooling plants, offering greater flexibility.
- Optimises existing cooling systems: Removes the risk of low demand cooling plant on/off cycling while enabling efficient overnight operation.
- Scalable performance: Provides precise charge and discharge modulation with a minimum output flow temperature of 0.5°C.
- Compact Phase Change Technology: IceBat offers efficient thermal storage with space requirements 8x smaller than chilled water accumulation tanks.
- Suitable for retrofit & new installations: Enhances the performance of existing cooling systems and integrates seamlessly into new project designs.
Meeting the UK’s Growing Energy Storage Needs
As energy costs fluctuate and grid resilience becomes increasingly critical, the demand for cost-effective thermal storage solutions is rising. Unlike traditional electrical battery storage, IceBat provides a highly economical and efficient way to store and utilise energy for cooling applications.
“We’re seeing increasing requirements for load shifting and capacity management within cooling applications,” commented Garry Broadbent of Pure Thermal. “Having developed a strong relationship with Fafco and being extremely impressed with their proven track record, we are really pleased to now be appointed as their UK partner, as we see significant potential for Cold Thermal Energy Storage in the UK & Ireland.”
With a 40-year track record and an installed capacity exceeding 3.6GWh of Cold Thermal Energy Storage, IceBat is a proven solution now available in the UK, delivering immediate benefits for industrial and commercial cooling applications.
Attend an IceBat Technical Seminar on the 18th of March
To launch IceBat in the UK, Pure Thermal is hosting an open day at the Institute of Engineering & Technology (IET) Savoy Place, London, on Tuesday, 18th March. The event will feature Cold Thermal Storage Technical/Application Seminars throughout the day.
The Fafco and Pure Thermal application/technical teams will be present to provide attendees with case study overviews, system design details, application advice, and a full technical briefing on IceBat’s European applications.
Register to Attend
The IceBat Launch & Technical Seminar Day will cover:
- Case study reviews (1400 units in operation to date with 3.6GWh installed capacity)
- Cold Thermal Energy Storage historical application and use
- Fafco technology overview, how does Icebat work
- IceBat system design and integration
- Application guidance covering the variety of operational benefits that IceBat is able to provide:
- Peak shaving, resilience/contingency, energy cost/tariff management, carbon saving, load shifting, cooling system optimisation
- Application drivers, why specify and utilise Thermal Cold Energy Storage Systems
- Retrofit and New Project integration methods and control strategies
- UK applications and how IceBat can be applied across a variety of industry sectors
When: 18th March
Where: The Institute of Engineering & Technology (IET), Savoy Place, London
What time: Technical Seminar sessions are available in both morning and afternoon.
Speakers will include:
- Yannick Ropartz – Fafco Area Manager
Subject: IceBat track record focusing on key applications & case studies
- Laila Khalfi – Fafco Technical/Applications Manager
Subject: Technical description and performance overview of small and larger capacity IceBat systems
- Mark Walker – Chair CIBSE Healthcare Group
Subject: Considering the application of Cold Thermal Energy Storage in 2025 with a UK market focus
- Ian Mellor – Pure Thermal Sales Director
Subject: Application methods and system integration to match project demands
- Garry Broadbent – Pure Thermal Operations Director
Subject: Key applications drivers and IceBat opportunities for specifiers and users
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About Fafco
Fafco is a global leader in innovative thermal energy storage solutions, with over four decades of expertise in developing cutting-edge cooling technologies.
About Pure Thermal
Pure Thermal specialises in advanced low-carbon heating & cooling and energy-efficient solutions for the UK and Irish markets, delivering expertise in system design, equipment supply, integration, and plant optimisation.
https://purethermal.co.uk/cold-thermal-energy-storage/
Media Enquiries
Garry Broadbent
Garry.broadbent@purethermal.co.uk
07921577671