U.S.-based manufacturer Copeland has announced a partnership with California-based Enersponse ‒ a provider of distributed energy resource (DER) management services ‒ to help improve energy conservation and claim energy incentives associated with demand response initiatives.
“This collaboration offers a unique chance for food retailers to effortlessly improve their energy conservation efforts through involvement in demand response initiatives that assist in stabilizing the power grid during times of high electricity consumption,” Copeland said in the press release.
Enersponse provides “intelligent, automated, secure signaling” to reduce energy consumption during high-demand events that could cause energy price spikes or outages. Copeland offers facility control management solutions that enable automatic demand responses (ADR).
“Copeland and Enersponse solutions together allow grocers to create customized parameters for responding to energy-demand events, according to their specific requirements, ensuring that critical operations, food safety and customer and employee comfort remain unaffected,” Copeland said.
Stores can obtain “passive revenue” from energy conservation incentives and ADR rebates. However, to qualify for the rebates, food retailers must have a computer-aided energy management system on the premises to monitor and manage system performance, according to Copeland.
Copeland provides three means for system management controls: its E3 supervisory control that enables web-accessible command over “critical” building and refrigeration systems, including compressors, condensers, HVAC and lighting systems; its ProAct Connect+ enterprise software that manages multiple stores in relative real-time; and its CC200 case controller that communicates with the E3 supervisory control and Copeland’s Cold Chain Connect mobile app.
“Customers have the power to allow small adjustments to heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration (HVACR) systems and refrigeration temperatures or to dim lights during high-demand periods,” said James McPhail, Enersponse CEO. “[We] simplify the entire process through a secure connection to the current Copeland building controls to make participation effortless.”
Collaboration in action
For over a year, the two companies have overseen the energy demand response participation of some “major” Californian grocery store chains enrolled in an auto-demand response program and receiving ADR rebates. According to Copeland, in 2022, one grocer secured rebates of over US$500,000 (€457,400) while avoiding roughly 220,000lbs (99.8 metric tons) of CO2e emissions.
“Our goal is to make the process so seamless that customers and employees remain unaware that electricity usage has been reduced,” McPhail said, with integration partners like Copeland allowing it to happen through a secure connection to its control systems.
“These food retailers have obtained rebates to cover the cost of upgrading Copeland hardware and software,” Copeland said.
“Through this program, we can conduct a building and site survey to determine where savings can be enhanced,” said Corey Wheat, Energy and Utility Solutions Business Development Manager at Copeland. He indicated that working with Copeland and Enersponse provides a simple way for food retailers to “enhance building automation in commercial refrigeration space” to meet sustainability and environmental, social and governance (ESG) objectives.
Headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, Copeland (formerly Emerson) manufactures compressors, controls, heat pumps, valves and other technologies for residential, commercial and industrial applications, including those using natural refrigerants like CO2 (R744), propane (R290) and ammonia (R717).
With its headquarters in Newport Beach, California, Enersponse partners with building management system providers, utilities and electricity suppliers to support decarbonization and grid stability. According to its website, the company works with numerous sectors, including agriculture, commercial, manufacturing, multifamily housing, and pumping.
“Our goal is to make the process so seamless that customers and employees remain unaware that electricity usage has been reduced.”
James McPhail, Enersponse CEO
