FRC Goes Solar
The Path To Sustainability
Katelinne H.
Thursday, December 19, 2024
Fresh Roasted Coffee's commitment to sustainability is setting new industry standards, propelling them toward their goal of becoming one of the cleanest coffee roasters in the nation
Flipping The Switch On Solar
At the end of 2024, Fresh Roasted Coffee proudly unveiled its most ambitious achievement yet—a 753 kW solar array. This monumental milestone represents years of meticulous planning and hard work, propelling the company to the forefront of sustainability and operational efficiency. With this game-changing development, Fresh Roasted Coffee isn’t just meeting industry standards—they’re redefining them, setting a bold new benchmark for the coffee industry.
Laying The Ground Work
In 2022, Andrew Oakes saw untapped potential in the historic Sunbury Textile Mill in Sunbury, PA. After years of sitting vacant, the mill found new life when Oakes finalized its purchase in May of that year and moved Fresh Roasted Coffee into its massive 84,000-square-foot facility. This new home became the foundation for Fresh Roasted Coffee’s transformation from a small coffee roaster to a coffee manufacturing powerhouse.
To realize that vision, the building underwent a dramatic overhaul to support the company’s growth while maintaining a focus on efficiency and cost-effectiveness.Â
Improvements included:
Building out modern offices for the expanding team
Adding new loading docks to streamline operations
Once the facility was operating at full capacity, Andrew Oakes turned his focus to a bold new initiative. Aiming to further reduce production costs and boost sustainability, he launched a solar project designed to power the entire facility.
Building A Solid Foundation
Big changes take time, and this conversion was no exception. The process was long but essential to ensure the solar project's success. Kicking off in March 2024, the transformation included several key upgrades:
Installation of a new insulated roof to enhance energy efficiency
A white top added to reflect sunlight and reduce heat absorption
Framework for solar panels began in July 2024
Updated electrical systems were installed in September and October to support the solar power integration
How Much Power Does It take to Power a Powerhouse?
Upon completing the roof updates and framework, the installation of solar panels began in earnest. By the end of the project, nearly the entire roof of Fresh Roasted Coffee’s production facility was covered with 1,310 gleaming solar panels. The result? A powerful 753.25 kW solar array, that's estimated to be capable of producing 900,000 kWh of energy annually.
This impressive energy output is designed to exceed the current needs of the facility, hopefully providing room for future growth as the company continues to expand. To put this into perspective, 900,000 kWh of energy is equivalent to the annual energy consumption of over 83 family homes.
This state-of-the-art solar array doesn’t just power the roasting and packaging equipment—it supports the facility’s HVAC systems, lighting, and even the office spaces, ensuring that every aspect of the operation benefits from renewable energy. By harnessing the power of the sun, Fresh Roasted Coffee has reduced its reliance on traditional energy sources, slashed production costs, and taken a giant leap toward carbon neutrality.
