As energy demands continue to grow, propane cooling is proving to be a smart and efficient choice for air conditioning. While propane is well-known as an affordable home heating source, it’s rarely given much attention when it comes to cooling. Check out why it’s time to start looking to propane for cooling as much as we do for heating.
Whether through engine-driven systems or absorption cooling, propane-powered systems help reduce energy use while providing cooling solutions for residents, health care, manufacturing operations, data centers, transportation systems, and small businesses.
Energy Transfer is proud to play an integral role in the national propane market. In fact, we now own and operate 13 terminals that store and deliver propane to customers across the United States. This includes our Marcus Hook Terminal, which supplies much of the region’s seasonal propane demand.
Throughout the year, an average of 46 propane trucks a day from numerous customers use our truck racks at Marcus Hook. This can rise to as many as 200 trucks per day during particularly cold weather when demand is higher. Those customers ultimately deliver the product to end users, including residents, schools, hospitals, restaurants, office buildings and more.
Propane cooling can be used in air conditioning, process cooling, dehumidification and medium-temperature refrigeration. These systems are powered by one of two processes: an engine-driven cooling system and an absorption cooling system.
Propane cooling can significantly reduce HVAC electricity consumption, making it a powerful way to save energy and operating costs. From greenhouses to hospitals to trains, propane cooling is a flexible solution that’s ready to meet our expanding energy needs.
Cost and Energy Savings
The Propane Energy & Research Council has found several benefits associated with switching to propane-cooling systems. Both methods not only benefit the energy grid, but they are also effective cost-saving measures. According to an article in the Texas Propane Gas Association’s March 2025 publication, propane cooling can reduce a facility’s HVAC electricity consumption by up to 80-90 percent.
The upcoming summer months will drive increased energy grid demand to keep millions of Americans cool. Warmer temperatures also increase energy usage for cooling processes and equipment. Using a more efficient energy source will mitigate these rising usage costs. An added benefit; since propane cooling often integrates with existing infrastructure, consumers will also avoid the costs associated with upgrading to a new energy source system.
Photo by Propane Education & Research Council
Reliability and Resilience
Restoring power is a critical component during the recovery period following an extreme weather event. Since propane-cooling systems do not rely on electricity to function, they can serve as a critical energy resource to support essential recovery operations.
A Versatile Energy Resource
Propane cooling is available in various volumes, making it scalable to serve a variety of uses and industries. Since its inception in the 1960s, it has frequently been used in greenhouses to enable constant dehumidification, but propane cooling can serve other commercial and industrial settings. This includes healthcare facilities, indoor agricultural facilities, data centers, [HR3] wineries, and office buildings.
Propane cooling may even become a common feature on trains. The world’s first passenger train with a propane-cooling system recently completed a one-year trial period in Germany. It was installed in a Class 440 regional train with extensive safety provisions, and its performance was compared to a standard air conditioning system using R134a. The propane-cooling system performed just as effectively as its standard air conditioning counterpart.
Propane-cooling systems are an efficient, cost-effective option to keep us cool – without adding further strain to our electric grid. Energy Transfer is proud to play a role in delivering the propane consumers depend on.