Bruce Lindsay
PE, CEM
Trane Technologies | Thermal Storage Systems
Speaker
Track C: Decarbonization and Electrification Strategies
Session C2: Better Buildings
May 2, 2024 | 9:00 am - 9:30 am
Hybrid Batteries for Commercial Buildings- Accelerating the Transition to 100% Renewable Energy
The US has been promoting renewable energy for decades, providing 30% tax credits for solar, wind, geothermal, and EV projects. The federal government realized that to achieve 100% renewable energy on the grid, energy storage systems were essential. They added energy storage to the 30% tax credit club. They specifically included thermal energy storage systems and they can qualify for a bonus 10% tax credit if they meet US domestic content. Thermal batteries can typically shift 40% of a building load for 4-8 hours and have been available for 40 years. Electric batteries will be needed to power lights, fans, pumps, and plug loads. Hybrid batteries will enable utilities to add more wind and solar projects now and accelerate the transition to 100% renewable energy.
Speaker Bio
Bruce B. Lindsay, PE, CEM is currently the Business Development Leader for Trane’s Thermal Storage Systems (CALMAC ice tanks) and focuses on the investment tax credits in the US Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. Mr. Lindsay has been involved in thermal storage for over 30 years and was the Executive Director of the Electric Power Research Institute’s Thermal Storage Research Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He was recently the Energy Manager for Brevard County Public Schools (Florida), where he had 84 schools of which 20 had ice storage systems. He is an ASHRAE Distinguished Lecturer and Program Chair for ASHRAE TC6.9 Thermal Storage.