Newark Farmers Market has expanded its investment in hydrogen fuel cell technology, and will be integrating a full GenKey solution to support material handling operations for a new food distribution building now under construction at its Newark, N.J. site, according to Plug Power Inc.
Newark Farmers Market has purchased an additional 110 GenDrive units, more than doubling the size of its fuel cell-powered lift truck fleet at the Newark location. This order is comprised of 25 class-2 standup reach truck units and 85 class-3 pallet jack units. Plug Power will deliver the GenDrive units to Newark Farmers Market in the fourth quarter of 2014. Fleet deployment will be completed in the first quarter of 2015.
Under the GenKey contract, Plug Power will construct a complete GenFuel hydrogen infrastructure, including indoor dispensers and outdoor fuel storage. The outdoor infrastructure includes a 15,000 gallon hydrogen tank with dual redundant pumps and gas compressor. This entire GenFuel hydrogen infrastructure will address the current and new GenDrive fleets. Additionally, the contract provides Newark Farmers Market with GenCare aftermarket service and support.
Through its investment in GenKey, Newark Farmers Market anticipates that its material handling fleet efficiency and productivity will continue to help the company see positive results. GenFuel services include the design, procurement, commissioning and maintenance of all fuel-related components required to successfully dispense hydrogen at the facility. Plug Power’s GenDrive fuel cell units are designed to interface precisely with GenFuel dispensers, ensuring optimal refueling.
“True validation of our fuel cell solutions is witnessed through repeat customer orders,” said Andy Marsh, CEO at Plug Power. “Plug Power took the opportunity to clearly showcase the benefits a GenDrive solution can have on a growing business. Now, we look forward to helping Newark Farmers Market realize even more operational efficiency and cost-savings through their facility expansion and deployment of the complete GenKey package.”
“We’ve been very happy with the fuel cell units that have been running our lift truck fleet since 2011,” said David Forem, president of Forem Facility Management, which operates the Newark Farmers Market. “We made the decision to go with Plug Power’s full GenKey solution in combination with the construction of our new state-of-the-art food distribution center, because it aligns with our energy-efficiency initiatives and our desire to reduce the environmental impact of warehouse operations on local communities.”
Newark Farmers Market has been a Plug Power customer since 2011. Its original GenDrive fleet, consisting of over 100 units, to-date has accumulated over 625,000 hours of run time. The additional fleet ordered for the new refrigerated warehouse, will operate in temperatures kept at a constant 28 degrees F. The power provided by GenDrive remains superior in cold-storage applications. Unlike lead-acid batteries, which deplete even faster in extremely low temperatures, Plug Power’s fuel cell units maintain consistent performance in environments as low as –22 degrees F. Productivity is increased as battery droop is eliminated. The hydrogen-based GenDrive units also enable the facility to support sustainable operations, as they generate only heat and water as byproducts.
