Bright Feeds Switches Berlin Facility To Solar Energy For Clean Power

Bright Feeds, a startup based in New England, has successfully installed a 300-kilowatt direct current (DC) solar photovoltaic (PV) system at its 25,000-square-foot animal feed production facility in Berlin, Connecticut. This solar installation is designed to meet approximately one-third of the facility’s total energy needs, significantly reducing the company’s energy expenses while contributing to its sustainability goals. Over its lifetime, the solar system is projected to offset more than 2,100 tons of carbon emissions. The system, which includes 625 solar panels, was developed and installed by Solect Energy, a company headquartered in Hopkinton, Massachusetts.

At its Berlin facility, Bright Feeds employs advanced artificial intelligence and drying technology to transform surplus food into an all-natural, nutrient-rich alternative to soy and corn in animal feed. The company supplies its innovative feed product to a broad range of customers across the Northeast, including animal feed distributors and dairy farms. By processing food that would otherwise go to waste, the facility diverts tens of thousands of tons of food from the regional waste stream each year. When operating at full capacity, the environmental benefit of the plant’s process is comparable to taking more than 33,000 cars off the road annually.

Bright Feeds CEO Jonathan Fife, said, “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. 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.”

Andreas Schmid, VP Business Development at Solect Energy, stated, “It was outstanding working with Bright Feeds to support the long-term sustainability of their operations. 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’ efforts to address both food waste and emissions through a carbon-negative production model have earned it notable recognition. In 2024, the company was featured in Connecticut Magazine as one of the state’s leading innovators, highlighting its commitment to environmental sustainability and forward-thinking technology in the agricultural sector.