Neelands Powers Award-Winning CCHP System
Neelands Group is proud to have served as the general contractor for Strack & Van Til’s 130 kW microturbine CCHP system.
The project won the 2024 Midwest Clean Energy Project Award from the Midwest Cogeneration Association. This recognition highlights the value of efficient, resilient energy systems in grocery retail.
A Cleaner Energy Solution for Grocery Retail
Strack & Van Til’s combined cooling, heating, and power system helps the store use energy more efficiently.
The system generates reliable on-site power. It also captures exhaust energy that would otherwise go to waste. The store can then use that recovered energy to support heating, cooling, and refrigeration operations.
This approach helps reduce waste, lower operating costs, and support a smaller carbon footprint.
Built for Sustainability, Resilience, and Savings
Neelands worked with Vergent Power Solutions, EMCOR Hyre Electric Co., and Martin Mechanical Contractors to bring the project to life.
The team focused on three key goals.
- Sustainability
The system reduces environmental impact by reusing exhaust energy. It also helps lower greenhouse gas emissions by offsetting electricity from higher-carbon grid sources. - Resilience
The system provides backup power during outages. This helps the store maintain critical operations and protect product during power disruptions. - Operational Savings
The system lowers costs by generating energy on site. It also improves overall system efficiency, especially by reducing refrigeration-related energy use.
How the Microturbine CCHP System Works
The system includes two Capstone C65 microturbines with integrated hot water heat recovery.
It also includes an 80-ton direct exhaust absorption chiller. The chiller uses waste heat to support cooling.
Dual-mode controls allow the system to switch between grid-connected operation and standalone operation. This helps the store maintain reliable power during outages.
Strong Energy Performance
Energy and cost savings were major goals for this project.
The system generates more than 1,000,000 kWh of electricity per year. The absorption chiller offsets more than 300,000 kWh annually.
Hot water heat recovery also offsets more than 1,000,000 kWh per year of gas-fired heating.
Together, these features help the store reduce energy expenses while maintaining high sustainability standards.
Building on Proven Grocery Retail Experience
This project builds on Neelands’ work with Longo’s on Canada’s first net-zero grocery store.
It also marks Neelands’ first microgrid and energy initiative in the United States. In addition, it represents the first integration of a CCHP system with a traditional HFC-based refrigeration system.
The project shows how microgrid technology can work with conventional refrigeration systems to improve efficiency, resilience, and sustainability.
Talk to Neelands About Energy-Efficient Grocery Retail Solutions
Neelands helps grocery retailers and commercial building owners adopt practical energy solutions.
Contact Neelands today to learn how our team can support your next refrigeration, energy management, or sustainability project.