This week's awards: IDP's Vikrell Electric Boiler & Microgrid System
Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations
October 23, 2024
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On Wednesdays, OCED will announce the latest projects that have successfully completed award negotiations. OCED will only issue an Award Wednesday notification on weeks when an award has been finalized.
AWARD ANNOUNCEMENTS
Industrial Demonstrations Program
Vikrell Electric Boiler & Microgrid System
OCED awarded the Vikrell Electric Boiler & Microgrid System project—led by Kohler Co.—with more than $588,000 (of the total project federal cost share of up to $51.2 million) to begin Phase 1 activities. Kohler Co. plans to upgrade its new Vikrell bath and shower fixture manufacturing facility in Casa Grande, AZ. The project plans to install electric boilers and a microgrid consisting of a 21 MW solar array and a 20.5 MW battery energy storage system to lower carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions by an estimated 7,865 metric tons per year, reducing at least 75% and up to 90% of the pressing process CO₂ emissions from natural gas boilers on site. The project aims to demonstrate the viability of a renewables and microgrid system to decarbonize process heat emissions and demonstrate applicability to a wide range of manufacturing processes. The cutting-edge system intends to provide seamless switching between energy sources to optimize decarbonization and economics, eliminating carbon emissions from natural gas boilers for industrial process heating.
During Phase 1 of the project, Kohler Co. will conduct initial planning, engineering, and design tasks while carrying out tasks associated with OCED’s completion of a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review and intends to hold preliminary meetings with workforce and community groups in the area.
View the project fact sheet and community benefits commitments summary here. Learn more about engagement opportunities here.