Lineage Logistics completes first self-sustaining cold-storage facility
Lineage Logistics recently completed “groundbreaking clean energy advancements” at its facility in Colton, Calif., that established the first facility in its network to generate 100% of its energy consumption on-site.
The company also said it is committed to “becoming net-zero carbon” by 2040 as a signatory of The Climate Pledge.
In alignment with President Biden’s plan to invest in a secure and sustainable supply chain in the United States, Lineage installed a 3.3-megawatt solar array and 460 kilowatts of linear generators at its Colton Agua Mansa facility in California’s Inland Empire that, combined, will produce 100% of the facility’s energy consumption on a net basis, Lineage said. These advancements are indicative of its prioritization of energy reduction, which started with the introduction of the company’s responsible energy reduction roadmap in 2015.
“Lineage always strives to be responsible leaders in the communities where we live and work, and our commitment to advancing the future of renewable energy at our locations is no exception,” said Chris Thurston, head of renewable energy projects for Lineage. “Lineage is already a model for the industry with our innovative development and deployment of industry-leading technologies. Responsibly creating our own energy is an important sustainability milestone, and I am excited to see how this achievement further inspires our commitment to carbon neutrality by 2040.”
Lineage partnered with PowerFlex, a national provider of renewable energy infrastructure, to install the rooftop solar array in Colton. It’s the second-largest solar array in the company’s global network of temperature-controlled warehouses. The facility has 8,426 individual solar panels that will generate an estimated 5.4 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of clean energy annually. The Colton array is one of several onsite solar installations that PowerFlex is supporting across Lineage’s distribution centers in the United States.
“As Lineage’s long-term partner in renewable energy, we are incredibly proud to share and help execute their bold vision for impactful solar solutions across their extensive network,” said Danny Ptak, PowerFlex director. “The onsite solar project in Colton demonstrates Lineage’s ongoing commitment to deploying innovative solutions to ensure that its operations are as sustainable as humanly possible.”
The onsite linear generators, a new technology launched in March by Mainspring Energy, create electricity using a low-temperature reaction of fuel and air. Distinct from an engine or fuel cell, a linear generator directly converts motion into electricity using chemical or thermal energy. The units ramp up and down usage to enable maximum use of the building’s solar array, ensuring reliability and optimal use of renewable power at all times. This increases the site’s resiliency by reducing grid dependency and lowers operating costs. Lineage’s Colton location is the first facility in the world with two linear generators, and the first of its kind to integrate a linear generator with solar panels, the company said. The two generators were installed in October.
“Commercial and industrial buildings account for more than a third of electricity usage in the United States and play an essential role in the energy transition,” said Mainspring CEO Shannon Miller. “Mainspring designed the linear generator to accelerate this transition by delivering resilient, sustainable, and affordable generation that is also ideal for pairing with solar and other renewables. We are proud to partner with Lineage, an industry leader and pioneer in deploying innovative energy technologies.”
In December 2020, Lineage’s increased its commitment to energy reduction by implementing new and innovative technologies. In 2021, Lineage was recognized by the United States Department of Energy for Outstanding Accomplishments in Energy Efficiency for the third year in a row and the Department of Energy’s Better Plants Challenge with a commitment to reduce energy intensity by 25% by 2024.
