By Greenech Lead America: Cogenra Solar, a provider of
distributed solar cogeneration systems, has installed a 50.6 kilowatt solar
cogeneration system at the Clover Stornetta Farms Dairy Processing Plant in
Petaluma, CA. The system will save 50 percent energy for the plant.
Cogenra’s solar cogeneration installation combines solar
photovoltaic (PV) electricity generation with solar hot water (SHW) production.
The system is expected to decrease Clover’s GHG emissions by 32 metric tons
each year, equivalent to removing 3,500 gallons of gasoline and saving 800
trees annually.
Clover Stornetta is leading the way with their
sustainable farming practices, energy efficiency and conservation improvements,
and these efforts have reduced the company’s carbon footprint while driving in
concrete, financial savings on energy costs.
“Not only do we provide our consumers with the highest
quality dairy, all products are produced sustainably, with respect for the
animals and the environment. And with the latest addition of the solar
cogeneration system we are now saving money on our energy bills. It’s a win-win
for us and our customers,” said Marcus Benedetti, president and CEO at Clover
Stornetta.
Cogenra has partnered with OneSun, a local expert in solar
PV and solar thermal installations, to construct the solar array on the roof
top of the Clover’s Dairy Processing Plant.
The 50.6 kilowatt, 20-module solar cogeneration system
provides renewable electricity and 6,000 gallons of solar hot water daily for
the Clean-in-Place (CIP) process at the plant. The system offsets about 50
percent of the plant’s energy used for the wastewater heating process,
displacing approximately 11,500 kilowatt hours and 2,300 therms annually.
The array was integrated seamlessly into Clover’s
existing natural gas water heaters and electrical equipment, and remote
monitoring and diagnostics provide real-time status on the system’s energy
performance.
“Like many other industries, such as hospitality,
multi-family, and healthcare, dairy needs large amounts of hot water every day
to handle wastewater. Solar cogeneration provides a cost-effective way to do so
and companies such as Clover are recognizing that they can embrace renewable
energy while saving money,” said Gilad Almogy, CEO of Cogenra Solar.
Cogenra Solar to set up solar cogeneration project at Tucson
Medical Center
Cogenra Solar recently announced a solar cogeneration
project at Tucson Medical Center (TMC). The company claims that the
installation will be the first healthcare solar cogeneration application and
will produce renewable electricity and hot water for TMC’s campus power plant.
editor@greentechlead.com