Sunshine Solar Cold Storage (SSCS) has broken ground for a multi-million dollar solar-powered, temperature-controlled facility near the Port of Tampa in Florida. Designed and constructed by Ti Cold, the facility is strategically located to support port-driven distribution and regional cold chain demand. Construction is now underway, with operations scheduled to commence following project completion in the summer of 2027.
The building will feature over 32,316 pallet positions supported by a mobile racking system, maximizing storage density and operational flexibility within a constrained site footprint. Operations will be supported by an AI-powered warehouse management system (WMS), optimizing inventory flow, space utilization, and throughput efficiency. Due to limited available land, the 151,000-square-foot facility has been engineered to sit above an on-site retention pond.
“We wanted to create something completely different from the traditional cold storage model,” said Alex Baumer, vice president and Partner of Sunshine Solar Cold Storage. “Our vision is to build a modern, state-of-the-art facility powered entirely by solar energy, proving that large-scale industrial operations can be efficient, sustainable, and environmentally responsible.”
In addition to advancing sustainable cold storage infrastructure, the SSCS investment will deliver meaningful economic benefits to the local community in Gibsonton. The project is expected to create more than 70 full-time jobs upon completion, supporting a range of operations, logistics and technical roles while generating long-term employment opportunities in the region.
“Sunshine Solar Cold Storage challenged our team to think differently through the engineering process,” said Sam Tippmann, president of Ti Cold. “From a solar-powered energy strategy to an elevated structure over a retention pond, this project demonstrates what’s possible when innovation leads the design process.”
