Occupation CEO Ice Energy | Name Mike Hopkins | |
Born January 16, 1959 (age 65) ( 1959-01-16 ) Education B.A. and law degree University of Ottawa
M.A. (Law and Economics) University of Miami
MBA University of Alberta | ||
Mike Hopkins is CEO of Ice Energy which specializes in energy storage for utility companies. His company’s Ice Bear system is noted as a challenger in Elon Musk's plan to "fundamentally change the way the world uses energy." Hopkins and Ice Energy were honored with a 2014 Patrick Soon-Shiong Innovation Award from the Los Angeles Business Journal.
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Hopkins previously served Ice Energy as its president, as well as its executive vice president of corporate development and legal. He has helped the company engage with utilities. Prior to joining Ice Energy, Hopkins practiced law for 18 years as a partner with Bennett Jones LLP, which is recognized as a leader in energy and natural resources. Hopkins sits on the boards of directors of a number of nonprofit organizations, including the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Canada, and the Sansum Diabetes Research Institute. Hopkins is a frequent speaker at energy industry events including the Energy Storage Association Annual Conference, Smart Grid and Climate Change Summit, Energy Fellows Institute, and WEEC Conference World Energy Engineering Congress).
Ice Energy
Ice Energy's thermal energy storage technology, the Ice Bear, uses ice to "cool air in the daytime, saving energy and money." Ice Energy networks the devices together using smart grid technology. Sales for Ice Energy grew more than 1000% in 2014. Hopkins announced a “multi-pronged partnership” with NRG Energy in 2015. Ice Energy plans to open a 22,000 sq. ft. research and development center in Riverside, California in summer 2015.
Southern California Edison
Ice Energy has contracts with Southern California Edison for 25.6 megawatts of thermal energy storage using the company’s Ice Bear system. The units freeze water at night when demand for energy is low and then use the ice for cooling during peak hours.
By 2016, Ice Energy will install 2,000 Ice Bear units throughout Orange County, California, as per the terms of the deal.
Riverside Public Utilities
Ice Energy won a five-year contract in March 2015 with Riverside Public Utilities to provide 5 megawatts of energy storage.