Bright Feeds Powers Berlin Plant with Solar

Bright Feeds, a New England-based startup, is pleased to announce the installation of a 300-kilowatt direct current (DC) solar photovoltaic (PV) system at its 25,000-square-foot animal feed manufacturing plant in Berlin, Connecticut. The system will provide one-third of the plant’s total energy, saving the company on energy costs, and is estimated to help reduce carbon emissions by the equivalent of more than 2,100 tons over the system's lifetime. The 625-panel project was developed and installed by Solect Energy, based in Hopkinton, MA.

"We’re constantly looking for ways to improve our process that not only make business sense but also support our sustainability mission and contribute to a healthier environment,” said Bright Feeds CEO Jonathan Fife. “Our new solar PV system advances our mission while also providing power to our operations and reducing our monthly energy costs. Solect was great to work with throughout the process, helping us navigate engineering, local permitting and other necessary approvals, ongoing maintenance, and more.” 

"It was outstanding working with Bright Feeds to support the long-term sustainability of their operations,” said Andreas Schmid, VP Business Development at Solect Energy. “This solar project will save them over $1.5 million in electricity costs over the 25-year life of the system while contributing to their overall sustainability efforts.”

Bright Feeds uses cutting-edge artificial intelligence and drying technology at its Berlin facility to convert unwanted food into an all-natural, nutritious, consistent soy and corn substitute for animal feed. The company serves customers across the Northeast, from animal feed suppliers to dairy farms, and diverts tens of thousands of tons of wasted food from the region’s waste stream each year.

At full capacity, the environmental impact of the Berlin plant’s process is equivalent to removing 33,700 cars from the road annually. Bright Feeds' carbon-negative process earned it a spot as one of Connecticut Magazine’s 2024 Innovators.

Bright Feeds | www.brightfeeds.com