Commercial, Energy Efficiency, Energy Storage  -  March 21, 2019

Whole Foods adds storage, benefits from DRAM

Whole Foods Market will employ energy storage in three of its northern California grocery stores to reduce energy consumption. The plan will allow the company to benefit from participation in the state’s Demand Response Auction Mechanism (DRAM) market

A report report by Facility Executive explains that DRAM offers financial incentives for buildings that reduce power consumption. The program was started in 2014 “in an effort to harmonize utility-based reliability demand response with CAISO, the state’s grid operator.” These incentives are provided during peak hours when demand for energy is high and the grid is stressed. By promoting energy use reduction, the report says, operators can better balance the power grid, rather than turn on natural gas peaker plants.

Whole Foods’ is participating throughout its use of Axiom Exergy’s Refrigeration Battery, which stores energy and then aggregates the loads through Leap, an energy technology company, for use in California’s DRAM market. The battery system offers real-time control, predictive analytics and advanced cloud computing to best store energy for use in grid services participation

 “We are pleased to expand our use of innovative platforms like Axiom Exergy’s to unlock new value streams and increase sustainability in our stores,” said Tristam Coffin, director of sustainability & facilities at Whole Foods Market. “After a previous successful installation, we are happy to continue partnering with Axiom to implement more cutting-edge power management strategies.”

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