Gas Turbines For Hemp Growers
With PG&E Filing For Bankruptcy And Under An Aging Infrastructure, Many Growers Are Forced To Think Differently
![]() It takes power to cultivate crops: production facilities, conveyor belts, mixers and sorters. Lighting. Heat. Watering pumps. Many California agricultural operations are being forced to think creatively about power - in the face of kW rates that some predict will reach $.30.
A 2017 Southwest Energy Efficiency Project estimates that 3/4 of Colorado grow operations are indoors, and that electricity comprises 20% to 50% of their operational costs. Indoor grow operations draw about 150 kW hours of electricity per year, per square foot. Expenses include lighting and temperature and humidity control for seedling, vegetative, and flower stages of a bud's life-cycle. Electric power draw includes considerable lighting, temperature and humidity demands, to say nothing of processing and any automation or monitoring. As of 2018, New Frontier Data estimated that energy consumption for grow operations drew enough to power 92,500 homes for a year; which is a population the size of Anaheim, California. The same research calculated that CO2 emissions from legal grow operations are slated to move from .47 million tons to .94 - doubling - in the span between 2017 and 2020. MBS Engineering has partnered to deliver a solution for unreliable power and high electric bills: gas turbine generators. The principles are simple: use ignited natural gas to power a turbine, connected to a generator. With co-generation even the 'wasted' heat can be used to heat or cool large areas. |
Click to download Our Analyst Report
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A Gas Turbine Can Cut Your CO2 Footprint And Your Electric Bill
Click to download Comparison: On-Site CHP Vs. Grid Electric For CO2 Output
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In California, 50% of grid or utility electric uses natural gas (internal combustion, gas turbine and even steam), but does not capture waste heat. When you consider distribution 'bleed', as well as non-utilized waste heat, grid electric is about 30% efficient (overall and for the natural gas portion). CHP use of natural gas (with cogeneration, or Combined Heat And Power), is about 90% efficient, and therefore can reduce your CO2 or carbon footprint - while you save money for electricity. The net result is you have to produce about 3x as much CO2 to get the same usable amount of energy - provided you can make use of the 'cogeneration' or thermal energy a gas turbine produces.
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Click to download Environmental Protection Agency and US Department of Energy Study on Cogeneration or Combined Heat And Power
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Click to download International Energy Association Study on Cogeneration And CO2 Footprint Reduction
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Click to download Simple Steps to Deploy a Gas Turbine and Start Saving Money on Your Power Bill
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Gas Turbines Represent A Quantum Leap In Reliable, On-Site Technology
Cost
- Cheaper Than Electric Utility, Even With Finance Charges
Typically about half of the $0.15 to $.30 per kWh - financing and gas cost included - You Own The Microturbine After Financing, And It Can Be Redeployed
Take power generation control back from the utility company
Environment
- Advanced Combustion Controls And Lowest Emissions In Its Class
Power like this simply can't go cleaner than natural gas and Flex Energy/MBS - Utility Electric Is Only 30% Efficient
Microturbines push 85% (with cogeneration) - Clean Waste Heat
Uncontaminated exhaust heat
Reliability
- Power When You Can't Afford Outages
Natural gas is more disaster-reliable, in addition to being more affordable, than electric - Unparalleled Reliability
Tens of millions of run-time hours and counting
Flexibility
- High Power, On-Site
Bring power to where you need it, in a compact footprint - Widest Fuel Tolerance Of Any Small Gas Turbine
Can run on various gas types, including captured methane (farms) - Stand Alone or Grid Connect
Independent, Parallel, or Dual-Mode
Control
- Power Whether The Electric Company 'Approves'
More and more, electric utilities are simply turning down industrial electric requests - Remote Monitoring
Complete view at all times
Superior Engineering
- One Moving Part And 8 Hours Of Maintenance, Annually
Simple and powerful, with maintenance costs are figured into financing - Robust Build Quality And A Durable, Weather-Proof Housing
Ready for any weather conditions, and suited for heavy industry - Load Management Without Batteries
No high-speed alternator
Ease
- 6 Month Order-To-Install
Installation time of roughly 2 - 3 weeks - Maintenance Included
Not just maintenance costs, but activities, are covered in you financing
Believe Your Eyes - 2 to 5 Year Break Even On Investment Terms
Rate: $.15 per kW hour rate; $.45 per therm
Item |
Electric |
GT1300S - 5 Year |
GT1300S - 10 Year |
Watts Needed |
1,300 (1.3 mW) |
1,300 (1.3 mW) |
1,300 (1.3 mW) |
Microturbine Monthly Payment |
Not Applicable |
$56,000 |
$23,000 |
Maintenance Charge - Figured Into Monthly Payment |
Not Applicable |
$17,000 |
$17,000 |
Monthly Gas Cost ($.45/therm) |
Not Applicable |
$45,000 |
$45,000 |
Total Monthly Payment |
$150,000 |
$118,000 |
$85,000 |
Monthly Savings vs. Electric Utility |
Not Applicable |
$32,000 |
$65,000 |
Savings Percentage vs. Electric |
Not Applicable |
21% |
43% |
Years Before You Break Even |
Not Applicable |
5.21 |
2.56 |
Want To Talk Gas Turbines? Give Us A Call
We love Microturbines whether it is talking about them, consulting with customers or installing them. We love them. Call us to learn more.