Ultra Yield Solutions (UYS), a horticultural lighting distributor for indoor farming, is matchmaking hydropower assets with indoor farmers, also known as Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA).
The company said this arrangement benefits the hydropower owner in two ways. First, the owner can sell their electricity to the indoor farmer above the wholesale electricity price. Second, a CEA facility located on their hydropower property can create a new rental revenue stream.
The U.S. Department of Energy estimates there are over 1,200 active federally licensed hydropower dams in the U.S. Many are small privately-owned hydropower facilities that typically sell power at low and volatile wholesale power rates, the company said. UYS’ TransFARMative matchmaking service introduces hydropower owners to CEA practitioners seeking their next agricultural facility location. Hydropower owners get to lease a portion of their property while also selling power to the indoor farmer above the wholesale rate. The opportunity is also a great deal for the indoor farmer if the electricity rate stays below the utility’s retail rate.
To facilitate the roll-out and scaling of the TransFARMative program, UYS has created a collaboration of companies that add value to hydropower projects with solar power, energy storage, data center co-location to export excess heat to the indoor farm, engineering, construction, and funding sources.
UYS is seeking hydropower owners in the northeast U.S. who are interested in gaining tenant income and a higher price for their hydroelectricity.
UYS provides indoor farmers with expertise on Agi32 simulations for grow lights to meet light level requirements (PPFD and DLI), utility rebates, federal and state funding programs, financing, indoor agriculture consulting, installation and maintenance.
