North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives have partnered with the nation’s second-largest egg producer, Rose Acre Farms, and Tideland EMC, to develop an agricultural microgrid that will deliver a variety of benefits including enhanced environmental sustainability and power grid resiliency.

Top: 2 MW solar array at Rose Acre egg farm; Middle: Lithium-ion fire response training in Ponzer; Bottom: 2.5 MW Tesla battery pack installation.

Phase I of the project is nearly complete following the installation of a 2-megawatt solar array and a 2.5-megawatt Tesla battery pack that allows the energy generated by the panels to be stored and dispatched when needed. The solar production is expected to offset about a third of the energy consumed by the farm which is Tideland’s largest commercial account.

In addition to this new source of green energy, about 60 percent of the power Rose Acre already receives from Tideland comes from emissions-free nuclear and renewables. This helps Rose Acre meet sustainability goals that many of their customers require from vendors and in turn reduce their own carbon footprint.

During December final inspections and testing were taking place with commercial operation set to begin this January. In anticipation of the approaching start date, electric cooperative officials hosted a learning session for local volunteer fire fighters to discuss the unique challenges presented by Lithium-Ion battery packs.

Phase II of the project is set to begin this spring with installation of a microgrid controller that will expand the project’s capabilities to include utlization of the facility’s existing backup diesel generators.