Sustainable HVAC System Research Startup Receives $20 Million From Bill Gates-Funded Breakthrough Energy Ventures
Powered by technologies developed at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), startup company Blue Frontier has secured $20 million from Bill Gates funded Breakthrough Energy Ventures.
The pioneering technology is the first energy-saving, grid-interactive, all-electric air conditioner, with the potential to reduce CO.2 emissions up to 85% of traditional cooling systems. This funding enabled the creation of a Blue Frontier heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) pilot model over the next two years.
Eric Kozubal, senior mechanical engineer at NREL’s Building Technologies and Science Center, said this achievement has been a long time coming. He developed the “Desiccant-Enhanced Evaporative Air Conditioner” technology more than 10 years ago with NREL colleagues Ron Judkoff, Jason Woods, and Jay Burch. Their work went on to receive a prestigious R&D 100 Award as one of the most important technological inventions of 2012.
Funding was limited at first, Kozubal said, but the team knew they were onto something and joined forces with engineering entrepreneur Daniel Betts, who founded Blue Frontier. Betts is currently the CEO of Blue Frontier.
Kozubal said their goal is to combine several related NREL technologies into one package, with support from the US Department of Energy’s Technology Commercialization Fund, and create a highly efficient, green HVAC system for the mass market. The first prototype was designed and tested over the past two years at NREL under the Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator (IN2) program, with Kozubal’s team focusing on developing a commercial production-ready design.
“The electricity grid of the future is in desperate need of energy storage solutions like this,” Kozubal said. “Blue Frontier and NREL are working to provide a more economical alternative for utilities.”
The demand for heating and cooling is increasing. July 2022 witnessed some of America’s hottest nighttime temperatures on record, creating increased demand for air conditioning in homes and businesses.
“HVAC systems are very energy intensive. When the weather is hot and humid, the systems turn on and the grid must react to the load,” said Kozubal. “Blue Frontier is a technology that can benefit anyone. The supply air is colder and drier than traditional AC units. It is unique because it can control the temperature and humidity level of a building better.”
Plugging into NREL Power
Blue Frontier technology leverages two NREL innovations in HVAC solutions. The first is the cooling process using indirect evaporative air conditioning, which provides the cooling effect. The second is a concentrated salt solution (or desiccant), which controls humidity. The two processes are combined into a conditioner system that cools and dehumidifies building spaces using less electricity to run fans and pumps.
Kozubal said the grid flexibility of the system derives from a second NREL innovation: an all-electric heat pump desiccant regenerator that reconcentrates cheap desiccant and stores it in a compact tank during low-emission, low which costs electricity times. Desiccant storage enables up to 12 hours of low power conditioner operation when power rates and carbon intensity are high.
“The electrification of this technology is a real breakthrough,” Kozubal said. “The combination of efficient electricity conversion combined with simple, low-cost storage creates a system that can save up to 80% of energy costs while shifting the rest of the energy to low-carbon sources.”
In addition to Kozubal and Woods, NREL researchers involved include Greg Shoukas, Nelson James, and Kerry Rippy, as well as postdoctoral researchers Omar Labban, Ransisi Huang, and Yi Zeng. Other investors include 2150, VoLo Earth Ventures, and Modern Niagara.
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