Bondi Produce

At a Glance
• System Configuration: 4 × C65 Dual Mode Capstone Microturbines paired with absorption chillers and controls
• Annual Generation: >2.2 Million kWh/year continuous baseload power
• Energy Savings: ~$100,000 / year in reduced electricity and cooling costs
• Refrigeration Integration: 50 tons of absorption cooling delivering 27°F chilled water for specialized freezer & cold storage


The Challenge
Operating an 82000-square-foot facility—including a 40,000-square-foot distribution center and 7,000 square feet of specialized freezer storage—Bondi Produce & Specialty Foods faces continuous, non-negotiable thermal and electrical loads. In cold-chain distribution, utility grid disruptions or spiking peak-demand tariffs directly threaten high-value inventory. To support its facility expansion and strengthen environmental stewardship, Bondi Produce needed a high-efficiency energy plant capable of generating low-cost electricity and delivering sub-freezing refrigeration without relying on volatile grid power.


The Solution
Building on the success of an initial installation, Veristar Energy engineered a two-phase (2022 and 2024) CCHP expansion, scaling the system to four dual-mode C65 microturbines.
• Sub-Freezing Absorption Cooling: Captures high-grade microturbine exhaust heat to drive a specialized 50-ton absorption chiller, producing chilled water at 27°F to support refrigerated warehousing and freezer space.
• Onsite Baseload Generation: Produces over 2,200 MWh of continuous electricity annually on-site, drastically reducing utility grid reliance and hedging against rising Ontario power tariffs.
• Dual-Mode Grid Resiliency: Automatically transfers to standalone island mode during utility outages, guaranteeing uninterrupted power and refrigeration to preserve temperature-sensitive inventory through severe weather.
• Phased Expansion Strategy: Scaled generation capacity seamlessly from the initial phase to support the facility's 40,000-square-foot distribution center addition.


The Results
• $100,000 Annual Savings: Significantly lowers net operational expenses by displacing expensive grid electricity and mechanical refrigeration compressor loads.
• Proven Repeat Customer Trust: Phase 2 expansion validated the long-term ROI, reliability, and performance of Veristar Energy's microturbine architecture.
• Critical Cold-Chain Security: Ensures 100% operational continuity and zero temperature drift across 82,000 square feet of cold storage during grid failure events.
• Ultra-Low Emissions Footprint: Maximizes total fuel efficiency by converting exhaust heat directly into process cooling, aligning with the distributor’s long-term sustainability commitments.