UGI Corporation announced that its subsidiary, UGI Energy Services, LLC and Ag-Grid Energy LLC (“Ag-Grid”), commissioned a new renewable electricity facility at Hytone Farm in Coventry, CT. The new facility was celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony that was attended by Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Commissioner, Katie Dykes and Congressman Joe Courtney.
“Hytone Ag-Grid is another example of the progress that UGI is making on building a strong renewable portfolio that is supporting projects that are viable today and will enable a more sustainable future,” said Robert F. Beard, UGI’s Chief Operations Officer. “This project supports our goal of increasing our supply of safe, reliable, affordable, and environmentally friendly energy. We are excited to work with Ag-Grid on this project.”
The Hytone Ag-Grid facility is a dairy manure and food waste project that will generate power from biogas produced by the digester. Electricity will be sold to municipalities via virtual net metering through Eversource. The project is expected to produce up to 4,400,000 kWh per year.
“We are pleased to partner with UGI and see the completion of this project,” said Rashi Akki, Founder and CEO of Ag-Grid. “UGI has more than 140 years of experience in the energy sector that we are leveraging for the success of this project. Their expertise combined with Ag-Grid’s robust pipeline of projects in both renewable electricity and RNG make for a strong partnership that is yielding long-term sustainable results that are good for our communities and, ultimately, a better planet.”
In April 2022, UGI Energy Services, LLC announced its acquisition, via a subsidiary, of a 33% equity interest in Ag-Grid. Ag-Grid develops and operates small scale renewable electricity projects in the United States that support local energy demands while lowering emissions.
Ag-Grid is currently engaged in the production of renewable power with five operational projects, in Connecticut and Massachusetts. These projects include the conversion of dairy waste and over 20 million gallons of food waste annually from nearby food manufacturers to renewable power. Ag-Grid also has food waste de-packaging services at selected sites. The renewable power, currently produced from biogas being consumed in gas-fired power generation units, is sold through long-term net metering contracts to local utility and industrial customers.
Ag-Grid also has a strong pipeline of dairy and food waste digester projects that are expected to produce additional renewable power and renewable natural gas (“RNG”) in the United States. GHI Energy, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of UGI, will be the exclusive off-taker and marketer of RNG for Ag-Grid.