For the Power Company
Electric Thermal Storage - An Essential Component for Successful Utility Marketing Programs
Electric Thermal Storage (ETS) is a clean, safe, comfortable and reliable method of heating. This heating choice is growing in popularity in North America, not only because it is 100% efficient and provides consumers with affordable and dependable heat, but also because it allows power companies to manage their energy load and demand.
The benefits of ETS are realized by shifting energy usage from high consumption (on-peak) hours to low consumption (off-peak)hours. During the off-peak hours, ETS heating equipment converts electricity to heat and stores that heat in specially designed, high density, ceramic bricks. When the room thermostat calls for heat, this stored electric heat is dischared into the home or application to satisfy the heating requirements. The amount of heat stored in the brick core of the heater equipment is regulated in relation to weather conditions. A room thermostat monitors room air temperature and regulates heat delivery as needed, providing comfort 24 hours an day.
More and more power companies are finding ETS to be an essential part of their Demand Response Smart Metering marketing programs in order to remain competitive in the energy world. When utilizing ETS in marketing and load management programs, a power company and its consumer will share a number of benefits because ETS:
- Reduces peak demand and overall power costs
- Helps power companies better utilize current capacity without eroding kWh sales
- Can make electric heat competitive with fossil fuels by utilizing off-peak rates
- Helps build new electric load
- Helps retain existing electric load
- Reduces transmission losses
- Offers consumers a low-cost method of heating with electricity
- Reduces high bill complaints
- Is an effective replacement for woodstoves
- May help defer transmission and distribution equipment upgrades
- Perfect end-use solution for Smart Metering and Demand Response programs
Depending upon the electric rate strategy and objectives of the power company, whole house ETS heating or the warm room concept can be utilized. The whole house concept is total home heating with ETS. With the warm room concept, one or two units are used as the primary heat source to condition the area most often used during on-peak hours.
Steffes Corporation manufactures a full line of off-peak heating products including: Room Units, Heat Pump Boosters, Central Furnaces, Off-Peak Hydronic Unit, Commercial Sized Forced Air and Demand Management Units and Load Management Controls that provide a high level of safety, performance, quality and durability. Steffes products are designed for any climate and set the standards for the industry. Through many years and thousands of installations, Steffes products have proven to be safe, reliable heating systems. In addition to providing parts and support for our own products, we try to provide parts for other systems where a manufacturer or importer is no longer doing business in the area.
Benefits to the Power Company