Taylor Farms has partnered with Bloom Energy, Ameresco, Inc., and Concept Clean Energy to install a microgrid capable of taking one of its California food processing facilities off the traditional energy grid. The energy companies plan to combine six megawatts (MW) of Bloom fuel cells, 2MW of solar power from Concept Clean Energy, and a 2MW/4MWh battery into a microgrid designed to power the 450,000 sq. ft. facility in San Juan Bautista, California.
Taylor Farms' commitment to providing healthy fresh foods year-round to customers and consumers cannot be disrupted amid energy reliability challenges. This collaboration combines the strength of each technology – fuel cells' ability to generate resilient, always-on power, daytime power generation from solar, and energy storage benefits from batteries – to fulfill the facility's 24/7 power needs completely, independently, and cost-effectively. While microgrids are often implemented only to provide power to critical loads in the event of outages, Taylor Farms seeks to prove that companies can control their energy needs and establish price and power predictability.
"Fresh food reliability is essential for our customers, and it's more critical than ever to provide quality, fresh foods to North Americans," said Bruce Taylor, chairman, and CEO, of Taylor Farms.
Taylor Farms has partnered with Bloom Energy, Ameresco, Inc., and Concept Clean Energy to install a microgrid capable of taking one of its California food processing facilities off the traditional energy grid.
"Our partnership with Taylor Farms and Ameresco is a demonstration of the capabilities that clean energy companies have to provide uninterrupted low-carbon power to large-scale facilities," said Sharelynn Moore, EVP, chief business development and marketing officer, Bloom Energy. "Our decade-long relationship with Taylor Farms is culminating in this application of what a microgrid can do."
This journey builds on Taylor Farms' relationship with Bloom Energy and is intended to allow the produce distributor to explore disconnecting from the regional power grid amid energy price escalations and reliability challenges.
"We look forward to this project serving as a blueprint for others as the role for baseload, dispatchable alternative energy sources serve as the cornerstone for resiliency in microgrids," said Ameresco EVP Michael Bakas.
"Working with Taylor Farms' leadership has inspired Concept Clean Energy to develop innovative and versatile solutions for solar canopies, rooftops, and ground-mounted applications," said Elliot Jaramillo, CEO of Clean Concept Energy.
Energy solutions, including fuel cells and solar, can be integrated at scale to provide low-carbon energy, reliability, resiliency, and immunity to challenges facing current grid operations.
For more information:
Rachel Molatore
Taylor Farms
Press@taylorfarms.com
https://www.taylorfarms.com/