Clients
Yesterday’s Onion Waste is Today’s Sustainable Energy
Advanced Electric had the incredible opportunity to work with Gills Onions to create the first power plant generating ultra-clean energy from their onion waste. Billed as an Advanced Energy Recovery System (AERS), this concept was a landmark exercise that allowed Gills, one of the largest onion processing plants in the world, to take their onion waste, previously costing exorbitant amounts of money to properly dispose of, and create sustainable energy that they could feed back into their operation and in turn, decrease their carbon footprint. Wendell Roberts, Advanced Electric’s founder, was seen shedding a happy tear when the project was compete which he claimed was caused by the onion peelings.
Advanced Electric was contracted by Gills Onions to assist with creating the strategy and implementing a power grid and control panel that could feed the energy generated from the onion waste into usable power patching in to the plant’s existing circuitry.
In Spring 2010, the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) awarded Gills Onions the Grand Conceptor Award, which beat out 163 other projects competing for the award from all over the world including the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Take that, Jerry Jones!
Two, 300 – KVA fuel cells. Generating .6 MW of electricity. Running on biogas created from onion juice. The fuel cells produce $60,000 of electricity a month.
“We were honored to be a part of and inspired greatly by this project,” said Roberts, “to step outside the box in our industry is a rare treat and we look forward to working with other companies that are looking to push the boundaries of sustainable energy.”
Gills Onions:
http://www.gillsonions.com/validation
http://www.gillsonions.com/sites/default/files/Gills%20Onions%20Waste%20to%20Energy%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf
Vanadium Flow Battery Brings the Juice to Gill’s Onions
As one of the largest fresh-cut onion processing plants in the world, Gill’s Onions has some impressive power needs to keep the choppers chopping. The 14-acre facility based in Oxnard, CA came up with the concept of converting 100% of its onion waste (close to 300,000 pounds) into renewable energy and cattle feed. Talk about a powerful idea! The challenge, however outside of the conversion process was developing power cells that could better harness and store the converted power. Enter the vanadium flow battery.
World’s largest flow battery system. Capable of storing and delivering grid power. The system consists of 72 cell stacks and six 12,000 gallon holding tanks behind them. The tanks hold electrolyte that flows into and combines in the cell stacks. Converting chemical energy into electricity.
Working in conjunction with Prudent Energy Corp, Advanced Electric, was on the team that setup the flow batteries and the power system necessary to make this historic power event come together. “It was one of those projects that were honored to be a part of,” said Wendell Roberts of Advanced Electric, “we felt like we were making history each step of the way.”
To learn more about the project check out the press below.
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