Hybrid chiller solution to power the winter ice rink season

When approached by a long-term customer, Blue Martini, to discuss energy solutions during peak ice rink season, we set out to find a greener, more efficient solution than the traditional generator and chiller package which they used to keep their ice rink cool. This was a great opportunity to showcase how Aggreko can integrate cooling equipment with smarter technology to improve sustainability.

Due to our long-standing relationship with Blue Martini, we were well-equipped to tackle what was a first for Aggreko in this particular application. The company required 2 x 250 kW heat pump chillers, which would usually be powered by a 320 kVA generator. In search of a greener solution, our engineers studied potential load profiles across the generators and chiller to incorporate a battery unit. 

Following surveys and testing, we specified 2 x 200 kVA generators running in a load-on-demand setup, where instead of one large generator we use multiple smaller generators that automatically scale power up or down according to demand. This package was paired with a 300 kVA/422 kWh battery acting as a microgrid solution. 

The large BESS unit allowed us to turn off the generators at lower demand, reducing fuel consumption and harmful emissions. Overall, we were able to reduce the generator runtime to just 61%, whilst also ensuring they ran close to their optimal load percentage, contributing further to the efficiency of our solution.

Our hybrid chiller solution ensured Blue Martini could manage the peak winter season without interruptions in power affecting customer experience. By deploying an optimal generator and battery storage setup, we increased fuel efficiency and reduced emissions over a traditional solution.

Overall, the customer saved approximately 10,444 litres of fuel and 34 tonnes of emissions. With this being a first for Aggreko, we can proudly say the solution was successful and Blue Martini’s confidence in our ability remains strong.