Microgrids Keep Power in H-E-B’s Houston Stores

Flooding and safety concerns in Houston from Hurricane Harvey led the San Antonio-based H-E-B grocery chain to temporarily close Houston-area stores. As of now, H-E-B indicated that 63 stores in and around Houston are again open for business. And, at least 18 of those stores are running with full power, thanks to natural gas-fired generators installed by Houston-based Enchanted Rock Ltd., a microgrid company.

The Friday before Hurricane Harvey roared ashore, Enchanted Rock disconnected H-E-B microgrid stores from the main power grid, and switched to on-site generators fed by underground natural gas pipelines. The pipelines were not impacted by wind or flooding. H-E-B said some of the 18 stores using the microgrid power were those that had temporarily closed, but were able to keep their refrigerators running.

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