Or are you solving the wrong problem?
Most refrigerated facilities don’t have an efficiency problem. They have a timing problem. Doors open, compressors ramp, defrost stacks at exactly the wrong moment. For 15 minutes, demand spikes… and your bill is set.
IceRack™ exists for that moment.
What It Actually Does
IceRack™ stores cooling by making ice when electricity is cheap, usually overnight, then uses that stored cooling during peak hours to take pressure off your refrigeration system. The result: less energy used when it’s most expensive and a lighter load on the grid when it matters most.
No behavior change. No asking your team to operate differently. Just shifting when your system works hardest.
Why It Works
Your utility isn’t focusing on your average energy usage; it cares more about your worst 15 minutes. That’s what sets your demand charge. Utilities charge more during higher demand spikes: think summer afternoons. Prices drop during non-peak hours such as nighttime. At the heart of IceRack™ lies the PCM, or Phase Change Material. This PCM is trained to match the temperature of the facility it is in. IceRack™ takes pressure off your system during those peak windows, by charging the PCM at night and discharging energy during the demand peaks, flattening the spikes that quietly drive your costs. The operation doesn’t change, but the timing does.
Where It Fits (and Where It Doesn’t)
IceRack™ makes sense when demand charges actually hurt: when a few short spikes are doing outsized damage to your bill. Facilities with busy dock activity, overlapping defrost cycles, or unpredictable compressor loads tend to feel this the most. If your facility operates during peak utility hours, with demand driven by refrigeration, IceRack™ would be a good fit.
It shows up where stability matters, adding a layer of thermal backup and reducing stress on your system when things get chaotic. If decarbonization is on your radar, shifting load away from peak periods checks that box without forcing operational changes. If you are located in a market with demand response programs, participation can add meaningful revenue. Now, you’re not only saving on energy costs but also increasing revenue!
IceRack™ works for facilities looking to lower operating costs, meet emissions goals, and avoid disruptions. If this sounds like you, it may be a great fit.
On the other hand, if your demand charges are minimal or your load is already flat and predictable, there’s not much to fix. IceRack™ only works if there’s something worth shifting.
The Bottom Line
IceRack™ works to help you accomplish your goals while saving money and energy during expensive times of day. For most cold storage facilities, that’s the difference between a predictable bill and a frustrating one. IceRack™ is a durable asset that will provide you with resilience without compromising your products.
The Only Question That Matters
Do you have a peak problem?
If you do, IceRack™ is worth a serious look. If you don’t, it’s probably not. Learn more by checking out our new whitepaper: .
Want a Real Answer?
Look at your load profile. If it’s smooth—until it suddenly isn’t—you’ve found the problem. Visit https://michaelsenergy.com/solutions/thermal-energy-storage/ to learn more.
