DOMBOVAR, HUNGARY — Partner in Pet Food (PPF) has partnered with Brenmiller Energy Ltd., a provider of thermal energy storage solutions for industrial markets, to utilize low-carbon steam in its operations. Through this, Brenmiller will design, build, own and operate a 30 MWh bGen™ ZERO system near PPF’s pet food plant in Dombovar. The project is estimated to cost around $5 million.

The companies have signed a 12-year Heat as a Service (HaaS) agreement, through which PPF will purchase steam from Brenmiller at a fixed rate. Brenmiller’s bGen™ ZERO system will take priority over PPF’s existing fossil fuel broilers, significantly reducing the pet food company’s carbon footprint and energy costs. 

In addition to supporting PPF, the agreement will allow Brenmiller to offer grid balancing services to MAVIR, the local transmission system operator in Hungary.

“Our Heat as a Service solution is a win-win for Partner in Pet Food,” said Avi Brenmiller, chairman and chief executive officer of Brenmiller. “By providing access to heat, while maintaining our ownership of the system, we’re helping our customer achieve both its sustainability and profitability goals, and will be able to deliver critical flexibility to Hungary’s electricity grid to support the deployment of more renewables. This dual ability is crucial to unlocking the business case for thermal energy storage in industrial applications. We are excited about our long-term agreement with Partner in Pet Food and pleased to be establishing a footing in Hungary’s fast-growing energy storage market.”

According to PPF, it produces more than 700,000 tons of pet food products annually and operates 12 production facilities. The company’s products are distributed to more than 400 retailers throughout over 35 European countries. By partnering with Brenmiller, PPF aims to achieve its emissions reduction target of 42% by the end of 2030. 

“Our company is committed to sustainability, and Brenmiller’s turnkey bGen™ technology is an ideal way for us to prepare our manufacturing operations for the future,” said Gerald Kuehr, chief executive officer of PPF. “As a European leading company in private-label pet food, producing over 700,000 tons of pet food annually, we have an obligation to lead by example and drive the sustainability agenda in our industry forward. We are pleased to work with Brenmiller to achieve our greenhouse gases reduction goals.”

Read more about sustainability efforts across the pet food and treat industry.