Eagle Solar & Light installed a 125.28-kW rooftop solar system atop Ferus Artisan Ales in Trussville, Alabama, making it the first brewery in the state to be powered by solar.
Ferus Artisan Ales
“We’re excited to be the first brewery in Alabama to offer solar-powered craft beers,” said Coby Lake, owner of Ferus Artisan Ales. “The cost savings coupled with the opportunity to do the right thing for the planet made this project a no-brainer.”
According to the Brewer’s Association, between 12 and 22 kWh of electricity is required to produce a single barrel of beer. That means that even smaller microbreweries, which by definition can produce no more than 15,000 barrels per year, will consume between 180,000 and 330,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity each year. The system at Ferus Artisan Ales is estimated to produce 168,000 kWh annually.
“We are thrilled to be working with the Ferus Artisan Ales team, and we applaud their vision and commitment to clean energy,” says Sam Yates, CEO of Eagle Solar & Light. “The project illustrates how solar can help small businesses save money, especially important on the heels of a pandemic. In addition, products created using renewable energy can be very attractive both to customers as well as resellers, which can help sales tremendously.”
According to a survey by the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol, demand for environmentally sustainable products and business practices grew by 61% during the pandemic, and 50% of brands and retailers expect that trend to continue. A Purdue University study found 75% of beer consumers are willing to pay a premium for beverages brewed using environmentally sustainable practices.
“We hear that the Ferus Artisan Ales are among the best around. After days in the sun installing the panels, our team looks forward to celebrating by sampling some; a perk, you might say, of the job,” Yates said.
News item from Eagle Solar & Light
