New York-based Millennium Hilton Hotel has engaged Libra Group’s North American renewable energy division, Greenwood Energy to install the first combined heat and power plant.
The business deal denotes a significant advancement in hotels to cut down power expenditures and enhance energy efficiency. The clean and efficient power generation will establish a standard for hotels across North America.
According to Greenwood Energy's CFO, Douglas Johnsen, the growth of the company’s operations in clean power generation for the hotel segment, is setting a benchmark in the North American industry wherein alternative power generation is penetrating the market. Johnsen further added that the transaction with the Millennium Hilton places the company in a strong position to promote distributed generation for institutions, universities, colleges, hotels, hospitals and healthcare facilities. The company is looking forward to collaborate with these facilities and use different microgrid technologies to make them more eco-friendly, energy-efficient and sustainable, both for the present and future scenarios.
The combined heat and power plant will change natural gas into thermal and electrical energy for the Millennium Hilton Hotel, which includes 98 suites and 471 guest rooms. The hotel is situated in the city's financial district and proximal to the Ground Zero site. Additionally, two 250 kW cogeneration units will be integrated in the plant. California-based company, Stowell Distributed Power will supply the units, who will also provide long-standing services for the plant.
Earlier in October 2011, FuelCell Energy sold a 1.4 MW Direct FuelCell power plant to Greenwood Energy for Central Connecticut State University based in New Britain, Connecticut.