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    Forklift, Material Handler Raymond Implements Solar-Storage Microgrid at New York Distribution Warehouse

    Jan. 19, 2024
    The generation side of the microgrid is comprised of a 200-kW solar photovoltaic array and 250-kW/420-kWh battery energy storage system. The later stages of project development focused on installing advanced lithium-ion battery chargers to balance grid and microgrid charging,
    Raymond's distribution headquarters in Greene, New York. Image source Raymond Corp.. website
    Raymond's distribution headquarters in Greene, New York. Image source Raymond Corp.. website

    Material handling equipment and intralogistics provider Raymond Implements is celebrating the deployment of a solar and battery storage microgrid at its distribution warehouse in midstate New York.

    The behind-the-meter energy storage and renewable combo includes a new energy management system at the Raymond facility in Greene, New York. The project also includes a forklift-to-grid charging system.

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    “With the implementation of behind-the-meter storage at our distribution center, we have gained insights into the benefits of the system in material handling applications specifically related to alleviating increased demand associated with charging of advanced power solutions including lithium,” said Jennifer de Souza, vice president of energy solutions, procurement and leasing at parent Raymond Corp., in a company statement. “We are excited to continue to demonstrate a new energy storage process and solution for warehouse energy management that will reduce utility costs for warehouse owners.”.

    Raymond has been working on development of the microgrid, electrification and energy management project for nearly five years. The project began as an energy storage collaboration with Binghamton University and was partially funded through a $1 million award from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.

    The generation side of the microgrid is comprised of a 200-kW solar photovoltaic array and 250-kW/420-kWh battery energy storage system.

    The later stages of project development focused on installing advanced lithium-ion battery chargers to balance grid and microgrid charging, with a priority placed on the renewable generation, the company said.

    Raymond is optimistic enough about the success of the microgrid project that it is now installing a front-of-the-meter solar rooftop system at its Syracuse, New York, parts distribution facility.

    “The energy storage system can transform warehouses into controllable energy hubs or virtual power plants, which can be optimized to support the power grid during normal and peak grid conditions while improving sustainability and carbon neutrality,” de Souza added.

    Raymond Corp. is owned by Toyota Industries. It manufactures material handling and intralogistics solutions such as forklift trucks and pallet jacks.

    Binghamton University, meanwhile, is developing research and innovation projects for energy transition sectors. One of those is BU’s new program called ChargeUp, which supports and provides some seed funding to battery innovation startups.

    About the Author

    Rod Walton, Managing Editor | Managing Editor

    For Microgrid Knowledge editorial inquiries, please contact Managing Editor Rod Walton at [email protected].

    I’ve spent the last 15 years covering the energy industry as a newspaper and trade journalist. I was an energy writer and business editor at the Tulsa World before moving to business-to-business media at PennWell Publishing, which later became Clarion Events, where I covered the electric power industry. I joined Endeavor Business Media in November 2021 to help launch EnergyTech, one of the company’s newest media brands. I joined Microgrid Knowledge in July 2023. 

    I earned my Bachelors degree in journalism from the University of Oklahoma. My career stops include the Moore American, Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise, Wagoner Tribune and Tulsa World, all in Oklahoma . I have been married to Laura for the past 33-plus years and we have four children and one adorable granddaughter. We want the energy transition to make their lives better in the future. 

    Microgrid Knowledge and EnergyTech are focused on the mission critical and large-scale energy users and their sustainability and resiliency goals. These include the commercial and industrial sectors, as well as the military, universities, data centers and microgrids. The C&I sectors together account for close to 30 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S.

    Many large-scale energy users such as Fortune 500 companies, and mission-critical users such as military bases, universities, healthcare facilities, public safety and data centers, shifting their energy priorities to reach net-zero carbon goals within the coming decades. These include plans for renewable energy power purchase agreements, but also on-site resiliency projects such as microgrids, combined heat and power, rooftop solar, energy storage, digitalization and building efficiency upgrades.

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