Limoneira, Tesla commission new power project to reduce electricity costs

US-based company Limoneira, in collaboration with Tesla, has commissioned a new project to reduce energy demand during peak hours.

Limoneira is an agribusiness with prime agricultural land and operations, real estate and water rights in California.

Limoneira senior director Mark Palamountain said: “This project will study the efficacy of battery systems paired to solar manufacturing facilities.

“The goal is to reduce demand from the utilities during the day, which is the high cost period, and offset that use with less expensive night time energy that is stored in the battery.”

Limoneira has six solar power installations across the company, with a total power generation capacity of 4.2 million kilowatt-hours (kWhs) per year.

This year, an additional solar power project is planned to be installed. The facility will add 1.5MW on the company’s packing house roof for 2.8 million kWhs or a total of seven million kWhs annually.

This will allow Limoneira to be 50% off the power grid and support its aim to become completely energy independent by 2022.

Limoneira CEO Harold Edwards said: “Limoneira has a long history of land stewardship and sustainability. We will continue to make investments that are clean as well as profitable.”

Besides solar installations, the company provides Work Force housing and carries out several green waste recycling, integrated pest management and water projects.