Direct FuelCell® power plants are generating ultra-clean, efficient and reliable power at more than 50 locations worldwide. With more than 300 megawatts of power generation capacity installed or in backlog, FuelCell Energy is a global leader in providing ultra-clean baseload distributed generation to utilities, industrial operations, universities, municipal water treatment facilities, government installations and other customers globally. The Company’s power plants are fuel flexible using on-site renewable biogas, clean natural gas or directed biogas.
One such sustainable project is: Gills Onions
Opportunity
Gills Onions, the largest onion processor in the USA, was looking for a way to dispose of up to 300,000 lbs. per day of onion processing waste in a cost-effective and environmentally sound manner. The Comapny’s sustainability goals are to achieve zero waste at every level of operation, improve energy efficiency, and reduce both costs and greenhouse gas emissions.
Solution
“Gills Onions and FuelCell Energy are providing a truly innovative solution for the fresh-cut industry’s waste disposal headache… Since pioneering the fresh-cut industry with our ready-to-eat onions, vegetables and salads, we have been looking for alternatives to composting our waste. Years of research and then connecting with FuelCell Energy have provided a breakthrough solution where the raw vegetable waste can be converted into electricity, thereby reducing greenhouse emissions, eliminating costly offsite waste disposal, reducing our energy needs, and making a new model for sustaining California agriculture. ‘Waste not, want not’ sums up the conservation and farming philosophy of the Gill family.”
75 percent of the onion processing waste is extracted and converted to low-emission, carbon-neutral power and the remaining 25 percent is sold as high-value cattle feed.
Two sub-megawatt DFC300 power plants were installed in tandem, providing up to 100 percent of the baseload power needs of the onion processing operation.
The two DFC power plants operate on renewable biogas supplied by the anaerobic digester.
The heat generated by the DFC power plants support the processing of the onion waste in the anaerobic digester.
DFC power plant operation and maintenance services are provided by FuelCell Energy, including continuous monitoring 24 hours a day, 365 days a year at our Global Technical Assistance Center.
Benefits
100 percent of the onion processing waste is eliminated, meeting Gills Onions’ zero-waste goal.
The high electrical efficiency of the fuel cell power generation process meets Gills Onions’ energy efficiency goals.
Carbon-neutral power generation is achieved due to use of the renewable biogas.
The virtual absence of pollutants from the ultra-clean fuel cell power generation process removes a significant risk factor regarding compliance with any future changes to clean air regulations
On-site baseload power generation supports energy security for the food processing operation.
Gills Onions’ estimated power cost savings are $700,000 per year, plus an additional $400,000 per year from avoided onion waste disposal costs such as diesel fuel for hauling the waste.
This waste-to-energy process has received a number of awards, including the prestigious Grand Conceptor Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC).
For more details please visit : http://www.fuelcellenergy.com/