Ayr Wellness recently acquired Sira Naturals and its three cultivation facilities in Massachusetts, with a total of 100,000 square feet of cannabis canopy, the maximum allowed by Massachusetts state law for one company. In Sira Naturals' second facility (called "M2"), 25,000 square feet of the canopy is served by two 300-ton Tecochill 'DTx Series' Natural Gas Engine-Driven Chillers. "Together, the chillers provide 600 tons of cooling for the facility and serve 100% of its cooling needs. The Tecochill plant satisfies two priorities: achieving the lowest operational costs and maintaining the plants in an optimal climate at all times."
Ayr Wellness' M2 cannabis facility in Milford, MA
Cost Savings
"Powered by natural gas rather than electricity, Tecochill chillers provide cooling at a significantly lower cost than is possible with conventional, electrically powered chillers. Ayr Wellness realizes additional efficiency gains and operating cost savings by capturing and utilizing the free waste heat that's available from the chillers' engines. At M2, this recovered waste heat is used for dehumidification and space heating, as is typical for Tecogen's many indoor cultivation applications," the team explains.
This efficient simultaneous use of the engines' shaft power and captured waste heat is considered a form of 'mechanical Combined Heat & Power (CHP)' by utilities and government agencies. "As a result, Tecochill chillers can qualify for significant state and utility efficiency incentives, as well as a federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) of up to 40%. These incentives and credits can reduce a facility's upfront capital investment significantly and make the paybacks for facility owners with Tecochill chillers even better."
The two CH-300x Tecochill Chillers installed at Ayr Wellness
Problem solver
In comparison to electric alternatives, installation is simple, and the footprint and connections are comparable, according to Tecogen. "The only difference is using low-pressure gas rather than expensive electricity. In indoor cultivation applications, resiliency is critical. Tecochill gas chillers maintain strict operation environments with minimal required electricity. Just 1-2 kW of electricity is needed to power each Tecochill chiller's controls and ancillary equipment. By contrast, a comparable electric chiller would require 190-300 kW of electricity to stay running. With Tecochill, in the event of an electric grid outage, a downsized backup generator is enough to keep the grow rooms climate controlled and to safeguard the valuable product."
Maintenance program
With a network of service centers around the US, Tecogen is committed to monitoring and maintaining all Tecogen products. "With our highly trained service technicians, we are able to offer good factory support options to allow our customers to focus on their core missions and businesses," Abinand, CEO of Tecogen, continues, "Maintenance support is offered in a variety of programs, from 'time and materials' only, to complete comprehensive 'bumper to bumper' coverage."
"Based on the system's actual run-hours, the maintenance charges are always much less than the energy cost savings a customer receives from the system. This simple approach ensures that Tecogen customers' charges are fair and incentivizes Tecogen to keep the units operational. All Tecogen products are equipped with a Remote Monitoring and Control System (RMCS), which automatically monitors and notifies service personnel to ensure seamless and optimal performance," he adds.
For more information:
Tecogen
[email protected]
www.tecogen.com
Ayr Wellness
www.ayrwellness.com