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. This 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 is 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. ​​

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Click to download our analyst's report

Click to download a flyer on the cost benefits of CHP

Click to download the gas turbine grower industry case study 

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

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.

Click to download Environmental Protection Agency and US Department of Energy Study on Cogeneration or Combined Heat And Power

Click to download International Energy Association Study on Cogeneration And CO2 Footprint Reduction

Click to download simple steps to deploy a gas turbine and start saving money on your power bill

Talk Turbines For Growers And Hemp! 

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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

​The technologically advanced microturbines at the heart of the system are incredibly efficient with only one moving part, running on air bearings.

We love Microturbines whether it is talking about them, consulting with customers or installing them. We love them. Call us to learn more.