Modelling and cooling power control of a TES-backed-up vapour-compression refrigeration system

•Combination of thermal energy storage and a vapour-compression refrigeration system.•Cooling production and demand can be decoupled, involving operating cost reduction.•Joint dynamic modelling is addressed, focusing on the different time scales arising.•Definition of several operating modes, power limits, and coupling analysis.•Decoupling cooling power control featuring fast reference tracking in all modes.