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Stop & Shop to convert power at 40 stores to clean energy microgrids

Project expected to bring more reliable electricity, cut carbon emissions

Russell Redman

January 15, 2020

3 Min Read
Stop & Shop-Store Banner-Shopping Carts.jpeg
Plans call for installations of Bloom Energy microgrids to start early this year at Stop & Shop stores in Massachusetts and New York.Stop & Shop

Stop & Shop aims to shrink its carbon footprint at 40 supermarkets by switching to clean energy microgrids for electrical power.

Located in Massachusetts and New York, the stores are slated to deploy Bloom Energy Servers in an AlwaysON Microgrid configuration, Quincy, Mass.-based Stop & Shop said yesterday. Under the microgrid setup, the Bloom Energy fuel cells at each store can operate independently of the local electric grid, enabling them to continue providing electricity during a grid power outage.

Bloom Energy Servers convert natural gas or biogas fuel into electricity without combustion, using solid oxide fuel cell technology. They also use no water in normal operation. The companies noted that the units, too, are much less vulnerable to extreme weather than overhead power lines because they receive natural gas or biogas fuel via an underground pipeline system.

Plans call for installations of Bloom microgrids to start early this year at Stop & Shop stores on Cape Cod, followed by more stores in Massachusetts and in New York’s Long Island.

Bloom Energy Server-Stop & Shop.jpg

The Bloom Energy fuel cells at each store can operate independently of the local electric grid, enabling them to continue providing electricity during a grid power outage. Fueled by underground pipelines, they're also less vulnerable to extreme weather than overhead power lines.

“Our stores are an important community resource for our customers, particularly when severe weather strikes,” Stop & Shop President Gordon Reid said in a statement. “Whether customers need to stock up on food, batteries, flashlights, other emergency items or even their prescription medications, we know how vital the products and services our stores provide are. These servers will not only reduce our stores’ impact on the environment but also ensure our stores can stay open when needed most.”

Related:FMI shines spotlight on supermarkets’ GreenChill efforts

With the new power solution, Stop & Shop said it expects to cut carbon emissions by more than 15,000 metric tons annually, the equivalent of removing about 3,200 cars from the road. The Bloom Energy Servers also virtually eliminate smog-forming pollution and particulate emissions. Also by using the Bloom units, the retailer expects to save the fresh water system over 1.6 billion gallons per year.

In Massachusetts, the Bloom microgrid deployments will be done in collaboration with the sponsors of the Mass Save energy efficiency initiative, including Cape Light Compact, Eversource and National Grid, the companies said.

“Clean, reliable, resilient power is critical to keeping businesses and families working,” commented KR Sridhar, founder, chairman and CEO of San Jose, Calif.-based Bloom Energy. “We’re proud to give Stop & Shop customers the peace of mind that their local stores will remain open before, during and after severe storms or natural disasters that disrupt the electricity grid.”

Related:Stop & Shop takes aim at fuel emissions

Stop & Shop added that Bloom Energy Servers also power a store in Mt. Vernon, N.Y. — and helped keep it open during several severe storms since 2014 — and at another store in Peekskill, N.Y.

Part of Ahold Delhaize USA, Stop & Shop operates more than 400 stores in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York and New Jersey.

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

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