When it comes to their energy supply, grocery stores typically think first (and second, and third) about cost, but in recent years reliability has also become a fast-growing concern. Grocery stores play an essential role serving their communities every day, but especially during emergencies such as severe storms, heatwaves, and wildfires. With utility rates rising alongside the threat of prolonged power outages caused by these extreme weather events, many grocery stores are searching for energy solutions that can lower their electricity bills while also ensuring reliable operations when the grid goes down. 

Supporting Their Community and the Planet

With over 2,000 locations across the country, this leading national grocery store chain is acutely aware of the impacts of escalating energy costs on its bottom line. And with many of these stores in California, where both planned and unplanned power outages have become increasingly common, this chain is also facing unprecedented reliability challenges. Every outage means a risk of costly food spoilage and store closures when their customers need them most.     

In addition to thinking about immediate reliability concerns, this company is also looking to do its part to address climate change, which is playing a clear and growing role in causing these extreme weather events. To this end, the company recently announced a robust ESG framework outlining climate and sustainability goals, deepening its commitment to driving meaningful, proactive change. The climate action goals include cutting carbon emissions nearly in half by 2030 and achieving net zero emissions across company operations by 2040.

To meet its energy cost and reliability goals while simultaneously fulfilling its sustainability commitments to its communities and the planet, the company has partnered with Scale Microgrids to build a cheaper, more reliable, and more sustainable energy system for one of their popular grocery store locations in Northern California.

Microgrid Benefits for the Grocery Store

The microgrid is a state-of-the-art on-site energy system that integrates solar, battery storage, and backup generation with smart controls to optimize its operations. 

The store will realize significant cost savings from the operation of the microgrid, and it will have reliable power to stay open through the planned and unplanned outages which have been increasing in frequency in Northern California. The microgrid will also help the company reach its carbon emission reduction goals by using renewable energy generated on-site.

Scale will design, build, own, and operate the system as well as providing comprehensive asset management services for the microgrid for a period of twenty years.

Contact us to learn more about Scale's on-site energy solutions and to see if a microgrid makes sense for your store here.