Thermal Energy Storage in Action: Inside the IceBrick® Innovation Center

Tour the Beverly Hilton’s IceBrick® thermal energy storage system and see how ice storage can shift cooling loads and reduce peak demand. Join ASHRAE Southern California on Friday, Nov 6 for a behind-the-scenes tour of the IceBrick® Innovation Center at The Beverly Hilton and explore an advanced thermal energy storage (TES) system powered by Nostromo’s IceBrick® technology. Seamlessly retrofitted into the property, the modular system is installed underground and stores thermal energy by freezing water during off-peak hours or when renewable electricity is abundant. Attendees will get an up-close look at how compact, high-efficiency thermal storage can help shift cooling loads, reduce peak energy demand, and support more flexible, lower-carbon building operations. This tour offers a practical look at how thermal energy storage can be integrated into an existing hospitality property and the role these systems can play in the future of efficient building design and operation. Parking: Valet parking is available at The Beverly Hilton and Waldorf Astoria. City parking is available approximately one block away, with metered street parking nearby. Attendance is limited to 20 participants per tour to ensure safety and an engaging experience. About the IceBrick® Innovation Center The IceBrick® Innovation Center at The Beverly Hilton demonstrates how thermal energy storage can transform an existing commercial building into a flexible, grid-interactive energy asset. The 1.4 MWh IceBrick system, which also serves the adjacent Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills, stores thermal energy by freezing water when electricity is abundant, or demand is lower, then uses that stored cooling to reduce reliance on energy-intensive chillers during peak periods. (Source: Nostromo Energy) The project was recognized by the ASCE Metropolitan Los Angeles Branch as its 2024 Outstanding Energy Project and has become a real-world demonstration of how thermal storage can support both building performance and the wider electric grid. (Source: Renewable Energy Mag) More recently, the Beverly Hilton installation became the first behind-the-meter thermal energy storage system to participate in the CAISO wholesale energy market as a standalone demand-response resource. During grid dispatch events, the system demonstrated load reductions exceeding 200 kW, enabling the Beverly Hilton and Waldorf Astoria to operate as dispatchable, market-integrated resources. (Source: PR Newswire) Together, these milestones make the Innovation Center a compelling example of how existing buildings can use thermal storage not only to shift cooling demand and reduce costs, but also to support grid flexibility and the transition to a lower-carbon energy system.