Chick-fil-A Launches Third Solar Plus Storage Microgrid in California
Restaurant chain Chick-fil-A celebrated the launch of its third microgrid in California on Wednesday.
The solar plus storage microgrid will provide one-third of the annual energy demand of the locally owned and operated Quarry Creek location in Oceanside.
Built by microgrid developer SolMicroGrid, the system includes an 81-kWh battery energy storage system, a 112-kW canopy and ground-mounted solar array and an energy management system that leverages predictive analytics and artificial intelligence to control and optimize the performance of the energy technologies.
To accommodate the location’s pitched terrain, ground screws were used to install the system’s ground-mounted solar modules, rather than traditional concrete footings.
Designed for rocky slopes, ground screws, also known as earth screws, are typically made of galvanized steel and penetrate deep into the soil, providing a stable base for the solar array. They are ideally suited for hilly sites or those with difficult soil conditions.
"Chick-fil-A's investment in piloting solar-powered microgrids, in partnership with SolMicroGrid, demonstrates our commitment to environmental stewardship,” said Peden Young, a principal program lead on the sustainability team at Chick-fil-A. “Harnessing renewable energy onsite at our restaurants reduces our environmental footprint, while also reflecting Chick-fil-A’s dedication to pursuing what's next and caring for our planet."
A recipe for resilience and cost savings
The Quarry Creek microgrid is the company’s third project with SolMicroGrid. Similar systems were commissioned in Stockton in 2022 and Santa Rosa in 2024.
The third largest quick service restaurant chain in the U.S., according to QSR Magazine, Chick-fil-A says it’s the first to pilot microgrids specifically designed for 5,000-square-foot restaurants.
“We’re able to generate clean, renewable energy right here on site where it’s needed, we’re able to reduce our impact on the local community grid, and we’re able to create some savings for this restaurant,” Young said during the event.
The grid-connected microgrid can also net meter power back to the local utility, enabling Chick-fil-A to contribute clean renewable energy to the grid.
The microgrid is offsetting about 30% of the restaurant’s demand, according to Heather Beaubien, director of sustainability for Chick-fil-A.
“I’m really excited to see how the SolMicroGrid system performs because other restaurants in our test have seen incredible energy benefits with it,” said Adam Hoffman, the local owner-operator of the Quarry Creek location. “If it helps us reduce our energy demand, that will preserve our ability to do community promotions, which typically require more power throughout the day.”
No upfront costs
SolMicroGrid owns, operates and maintains all three Chick-fil-A systems under energy-as-a-service (EaaS) agreements. An EaaS eliminates the need for upfront capital investments by the host. The developer retains ownership of the system and sells electricity to the host at a reduced rate.
Electricity provided by the Quarry Creek microgrid will cost the restaurant 10% less than grid power, according to a statement from the company.
“The combination of solar and battery storage that we provided Chick-fil-A will help reduce energy costs while also achieving sustainability goals,” said Kirk Edelman, CEO of SolMicroGrid. “We’re grateful for the opportunity to provide Chick-fil-A with renewable energy at a discount.”
Chick-fil-A will evaluate the results of the pilot projects over the next six to 12 months, but the company says it’s excited to explore opportunities to deploy microgrid technologies at other locations in the future.
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