Propane Cooling: A Viable Solution for Commercial and Industrial Applications
Rising energy demands put enormous strain on our aging electric grid infrastructure, creating economic, operational, and environmental challenges for commercial and industrial businesses to cool their facilities. Switching to propane-powered cooling systems significantly reduces electricity requirements, providing cost savings, environmental benefits, and grid relief.
Propane cooling is a proven technology that has been used for decades, operating like traditional systems but using propane to power the compressor or ignite the gas burner. Available in sizes from 5 to 400 tons, these cooling systems provide superior and efficient performance and serve diverse needs, including comfort conditioning, process cooling, dehumidification, medium-temperature refrigeration, and extreme ambient operation.
RELIABILITY
Propane cooling reduces a facility’s electricity use, freeing capacity for other loads such as EV car charging stations. The reliability of the electric grid is also improved, particularly during peak summer demand. Propane cooling is ideal in areas with high electric rates and limited infrastructure.
ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY
Propane systems continue operating during power outages, ensuring resiliency in mission-critical applications. Many units feature built-in modularity and redundancy, maintaining performance even during service disruptions.
COST SAVINGS
By eliminating excessive demand rates and backup generator expenses, propane cooling lowers operating costs. Its seamless integration with existing infrastructure also avoids costly upgrades.
RESILIENCY
Because propane energy is generated on-site, propane cooling reduces reliance on coal and natural gas, offering a clean energy solution with low carbon emissions. For most of the U.S., propane cooling units operate at a significantly lower carbon intensity than electric source generation, especially during peak summertime demand for air conditioning.
The Alternative Technology Demonstration & Research Program
Power losses and increasing costs of electricity require commercial and industrial companies to adopt energy options that are reliable and affordable. The Alternative Technology Demonstration & Research Program is designed to collect data from participating commercial and industrial businesses to inform research about propane use in the commercial building industry, specifically with propane cooling and CHP equipment.
