Whole Foods Market is powering its kitchen with used cooking oil from its regional stores.
Whole Foods Market (WFM), one of the nation’s leading natural grocery chains, is furthering its commitment to sustainable business practices by powering its North Atlantic kitchen facility exclusively on used cooking oil that is aggregated from its regional stores.
The 70,000-square-foot kitchen facility produces fresh prepared foods that are distributed to 62 WFM stores located in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Maine, New York and New Jersey. The kitchen facility demands on average 200 kilowatts (kW) of electricity and produces numerous organic waste streams, including used cooking oil.
In August of 2012, WFM and renewable energy partner, Marblehead, Mass.-based Lifecycle Renewables, commissioned a 500-kW on-site renewable energy system capable of supplying the full electricity needs of the kitchen facility.
Energy and Disposal Savings
In 2009, Lifecycle Renewables began collecting used cooking oil from all WFM’s stores in New England in anticipation of commissioning an on-site renewable energy system to use the waste. At the time, WFM was spending $1 per gallon to dispose of used cooking oil in some cases.
Concurrently, the commercialization of biodiesel fuel was beginning to take a foothold in New England and was rapidly changing the value of used cooking oil. Lifecycle Renewables was able to produce a significant savings to WFM by offering collection of used cooking oil for free.
Between 2009 and 2012, WFM’s used cooking oil went from being an expense of $1 per gallon to a gain of $1 per gallon for the company. Prior to this renewable energy solution, the best market values for used cooking oil had been largely generated by domestic and foreign biodiesel production. Strong governmental support and incentives, in addition to high petroleum prices, have caused a significant increase in used cooking oil prices.
Before biodiesel, the traditional use for used cooking oil was as livestock feed supplement. Historically, the price of used cooking oil, termed yellow grease (when sold as a commodity), was closely correlated to the price of corn. Today, yellow grease price follows prices for oil and, to some extent, corn. Additionally, yellow grease price can be significantly affected by both domestic and foreign government policies. While used cooking oil/yellow grease prices have remained high throughout the past four years, market and governmental forces have made the values extremely volatile.
By producing renewable retail electricity for commercial facilities, Lifecycle Renewables is able to achieve a consistently high value for used cooking oil. Most importantly, WFM is now able to realize a savings on its electricity bill and be relieved of disposal costs for used cooking oil for the next five years at least.
Amplified Success
Lifecycle Renewables has created an efficient used cooking oil collection logistics capability that has enabled high growth throughout its short five-year history. In addition to WFM stores, it now collects used cooking oil from hundreds of restaurants, schools, entertainment venues, hotels and food manufacturers throughout New England.
| Lifecycle’s LR100 fuel is derived from 100 percent used cooking oil and uses no chemicals or additives in its refinement process. |
The fuel is aggregated and processed into a renewable diesel fuel called LR100. Lifecycle’s LR100 fuel is derived from 100 percent used cooking oil and uses no chemicals or additives in its refinement process. Lifecycle Renewables operates a 5-million-gallon-per-year facility in Charlestown, Mass., just minutes from its renewable energy system at the WFM kitchen.
The 500-kW renewable energy system at WFM is fueled weekly. Approximately 3,000 gallons of LR100 fuel are used per week to produce up to 250 kW of continuous energy to the kitchen. Utilizing fuel from used cooking oil as opposed to traditional diesel fuel reduces greenhouse gas emissions by more than 80 percent.
System Configuration
The renewable energy system at WFM is set up in parallel to the local utility that feeds the kitchen. This means that the system is not physically connected to the building. This configuration enables the kitchen to receive electricity from the grid and the system simultaneously. This is important, as it ensures that there is always a source of power, thereby reducing the threat of an outage.
In addition, the system is set to follow the kitchen’s electricity load demand dynamically. As the facility requires more electricity, the system will respond and ramp up instantly. Conversely, as the facility requires less electricity, the system will slow its production. This capability ensures that the system is operating in the most fuel-efficient manner.
The 500 kW system sits approximately 10 feet away from the exterior of the kitchen in a space akin to a standard parking spot. The system stands approximately 20 feet high with an exhaust stack extending 15 feet above the roofline of the kitchen. In addition to regulating emissions created by the system, the Massachusetts Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) required that the system be quiet. The system is housed in a sound attenuated enclosure and at full production would not compete with casual conversation at a proximity of 3 feet.
Lifecycle Renewables was awarded an air permit by the Massachusetts DEP to operate the system year -ound. In addition, the system will receive Massachusetts Class I Renewable Energy Credits for each kilowatt hour produced.
This story was submitted by Lifecycle Renewables, Marblehead, Mass. More information is available online at www.lifecyclerenewables.com.