That’s the goal behind a new AI-driven approach to cold store energy management, and it has just attracted major investor interest. Gyre Energy has raised more than $1.3m in a pre-seed funding round led by Speedinvest, with participation from rule30 and Plug and Play. This backs a solution targeting peak power reduction in a sector where energy costs hit hard.
Why does this matter? The International Energy Agency estimates that cooling accounts for roughly a tenth of global electricity consumption. That’s a vast amount of energy, and cold stores are among the heaviest users. By focusing on cold store peak power reduction, Gyre Energy aims to address one of the most pressing challenges in the cold chain. Their pre-seed funding signals that investors see real potential in smarter, more efficient cooling — and that could mean lower bills and a lighter energy footprint for you.
How Gyre’s Physics-Based AI Reduces Cold Store Energy Consumption
So how does Gyre actually deliver on that promise of lower bills and a lighter energy footprint? The answer lies in a fundamentally different approach to managing cooling. Instead of relying on simple rule-based systems or reactive adjustments, Gyre uses physics-based AI to model the thermal dynamics of your cold store. It’s a shift from guesswork to genuine understanding.
Understanding Thermal Dynamics with AI
Gyre is an applied AI company that specializes in modeling how heat moves and behaves in cold storage environments. Traditional energy management systems often respond to temperature changes after they happen — like turning up the cooling when it gets too warm. Gyre’s software, however, studies how a site behaves over time. It learns the unique thermal characteristics of your facility, including how quickly it cools, how it responds to door openings, and how external weather affects it. This thermal dynamics modeling allows the system to predict cooling needs before they arise.
Once the software understands your site’s behavior, it forecasts cooling demand and trims energy use accordingly — all without letting the temperature drift outside safe limits. This is where cold chain optimization comes into play. By anticipating peak loads and adjusting cooling output proactively, Gyre helps you avoid unnecessary spikes in power consumption. That’s a direct way to reduce cold store peak power costs, which often make up a large portion of your energy bill. The result is a more efficient, stable cooling operation that runs smarter, not harder.
Thermal Energy Storage: The Key to Cutting Peak Power in Cold Stores
So, if smarter cooling can lower overall consumption, the next question is how to tackle the price spikes themselves. That’s where thermal energy storage comes in as a practical solution. Instead of running your refrigeration equipment at full blast when electricity is at its most expensive, you can shift the timing of your cooling load.
Gyre uses thermal energy storage to bank cooling when electricity is cheap and release it when prices spike. Think of it as a thermal battery for your cold store. During off-peak hours, your system charges up by freezing a storage medium or chilling a fluid. Then, when peak pricing kicks in, you simply discharge that stored cooling to maintain temperatures. This approach is known as energy arbitrage — buying energy when it’s low and using it when it’s high, without actually changing how much energy you consume overall.
How Thermal Storage Works in Practice
Implementing this doesn’t require a full equipment replacement. You add a storage unit to your existing cooling loop. Here’s a step-by-step look at how it plays out in a typical cold store:
- Charge phase: At night or during low-demand periods, your chillers run to cool a storage medium (like ice or phase-change materials). This uses cheaper electricity.
- Discharge phase: During peak hours, the stored cooling is circulated through your cold store’s air handlers or refrigeration coils. Your compressors can idle or run at a fraction of their normal load.
- Peak shaving: The result is a dramatic reduction in your facility’s peak power draw. This is called peak shaving cold storage, and it directly cuts the demand charges on your utility bill.
This method is especially effective for demand response cold chain programs, where utilities pay you to reduce load during grid stress. By using thermal storage, you can participate without disrupting your product temperatures. It’s a reliable way to manage your cold store peak power costs while keeping your operation stable and efficient.
Real-World Results: 38% Cost Reduction and 18-Month Payback
So, what does that thermal storage approach look like in actual practice? One deployment in a 2,900 square foot frozen store offers a clear picture. This location was facing the same cold store peak power challenges you might be dealing with: high demand charges and the constant pressure to keep temperatures stable. After installing Gyre’s system, the results came in quickly.
Electricity costs dropped by 38%, and daily energy use fell by 35%. That’s not just a small tweak — it’s a major shift in operating expenses. For a frozen storage facility, where energy is a top ongoing cost, those cuts translate directly into better bottom-line numbers.
The 2,900 Square Foot Frozen Store Case Study
Equally important for any business investment: the payback period was under 18 months. You don’t need a long wait to see returns, and you won’t have to replace your existing refrigeration equipment. The system works with what you already have, which keeps upfront costs low and speeds up your cold store ROI. This is a real-world example of how energy cost reduction doesn’t have to mean a complete overhaul. You can start saving quickly and practically.
Scaling Up: Gyre’s Largest Deployment with a Logistics Leader
While smaller retrofits quickly prove the concept, Gyre is now scaling that proof to an entirely different level. The recent funding directly underwrites the company’s largest deployment to date: a 140,000-square-foot cold chain operation for a global logistics leader. The client’s name remains undisclosed, but the scale tells you everything. This isn’t a pilot program. It’s a full-scale implementation designed to tackle cold store peak power across a massive facility.
Cold chain logistics rely on enormous amounts of energy to keep products frozen or refrigerated around the clock. When peak demand hits—often during summer afternoons or during defrost cycles—energy costs can spike dramatically. Gyre’s approach uses their smart thermal energy storage to shave those peaks. For a facility this size, the potential savings become significant. You’re looking at reduced demand charges and a more stable, predictable energy bill.
Details of the 140,000 Square Foot Deployment
The deployment covers the entire operational footprint of this cold chain warehouse. That includes freezer spaces, cooler rooms, and the central refrigeration system. Gyre integrates its technology directly into the existing cooling infrastructure, so there’s no need for a complete retrofit. This is warehouse energy management on a grand scale. For any company running large-scale cold storage, this project serves as a practical reference point. It shows that industrial energy efficiency solutions can scale without disrupting daily operations. The global logistics leader chose this approach because it lowers their cold store peak power without compromising temperature integrity. That’s critical in cold chain logistics, where every degree matters.
This deployment also reinforces the business case for Gyre’s model. If a major logistics player commits to a 140,000-square-foot installation, the technology has clearly moved past the experimental stage. You can expect to see more large-scale cold storage deployments following this lead, especially as energy prices keep rising.
Related reading: our post AWS Previews Release Management Capabilities in DevOps Agent offers more practical ideas on this.
Why Cooling is a Critical Challenge in the Energy Transition
That kind of scaling-up matters because the need for better cooling solutions isn’t just a convenience — it is becoming a major force in the global energy landscape. Global electricity demand is forecast to grow about 50% faster between 2026 and 2030 than the previous decade, driven by cooling, data centres, and electrification. That puts immense strain on grids already struggling to integrate renewable sources.
Yet cooling itself is a surprisingly stubborn problem. As the climate warms, the demand for refrigeration and air conditioning climbs — creating a feedback loop where more cooling consumes more energy, often from fossil fuels, which in turn worsens climate change. One investor recently described cooling as one of the most fundamental and overlooked problems in the energy transition. They have a point. While most public attention goes to electric vehicles and solar panels, industrial refrigeration flies under the radar.
For cold storage operators, the challenge is especially acute. Your facility runs constantly, and cold store peak power demand can spike during heatwaves or when the grid is already stretched. That is where technologies like Gyre Energy’s thermal battery come in. By shifting when that power is drawn — storing cold energy during off-peak hours — you can ease grid pressure and cut costs at the same time.
IEA Data on Cooling Demand
The International Energy Agency has tracked how quickly cooling loads are rising worldwide. Their data points to a future where air conditioning and refrigeration become one of the biggest single drivers of global electricity demand growth. For anyone involved in industrial energy policy or decarbonization cooling strategies, this is the quiet crisis that needs a loud answer. The companies that solve it first will have a real competitive edge.
The Founders, Awards, and Next Steps for Gyre Energy
That competitive edge starts with the people building the solution. Gyre Energy was founded in 2024 by Dougald Coulson, Michael McKenna, and Tom Gibson — all three are Oxford MBA graduates. Their background in business strategy, rather than pure engineering, gives the climate tech startup a practical, market-first approach from day one. They recognized that cold store peak power is not just a technical puzzle but a costly operational bottleneck that facility managers face every month. By combining commercial acumen with a clear focus on industrial energy efficiency, the founders aim to turn an expensive problem into a manageable, cost-saving system.
The company has already earned notable recognition that backs up its early momentum. Gyre has been named a MIT Climate Solver, a designation that highlights promising climate technologies with real-world impact. It has also secured Innovate UK grants, which support groundbreaking innovation in the UK’s cold chain and energy sectors. And at the SXSW London Venture Spotlight, Gyre took second place, competing against a field of emerging tech startups. These milestones signal that the industry — and major innovation bodies — see genuine potential in how Gyre tackles cold store peak power reduction.
So what comes next for the young company? With the $1.3M funding round closed, Gyre is focusing on scaling its technology across more cold storage sites in the UK and Europe. The founding team is also expanding headcount, particularly in software and field operations, to support faster deployment. For anyone managing a cold store or advising on energy strategy, Gyre is a name worth watching closely as it moves from pilot projects toward broader commercial rollout.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Gyre’s physics-based AI differ from traditional energy management systems?
Traditional systems often rely on simple rules or reactive controls. Gyre’s physics-based AI builds a digital twin of your cold store’s thermodynamics, allowing it to proactively predict cooling loads and adjust equipment in real time. This approach helps you reduce cold store peak power usage without sacrificing temperature stability.
What is the typical payback period for Gyre’s system?
You can expect a return on investment within a few years, thanks to lower energy bills and reduced demand charges. The exact timeframe depends on your facility size, local electricity rates, and how aggressively you pursue peak shaving. Gyre provides a tailored projection based on your site’s data.
Why is cooling such a critical problem in the energy transition?
Cooling accounts for a large and growing share of global electricity demand, especially for cold storage facilities. Peaks in cooling needs often coincide with grid stress, forcing reliance on fossil-fuel backup plants. Cutting cold store peak power helps integrate more renewables and lower overall carbon emissions.
