Brimley Solar Commissioning: Transforming the Energy Landscape

Energy efficiency plays a crucial role in sustainability as it directly impacts resource conservation, environmental protection, and economic savings. This month, we spotlight the Atlantic Packaging Products Engineering team, including Suhel Bace, Energy Engineer, and Adam Murree, Energy Manager, as well as our Energy Efficiency team, led by Sara Lashari, Program Manager for ESG, and Nairy Tourabian, Sustainability Analyst. This summer, the Energy team completed the installation of the solar array at the Brimley location in the Ontario division, marking a milestone that reflects the Atlantic Packaging group of companies’ ongoing commitment to innovation, reliability, and capacity building in clean energy.

The Company’s Efforts Toward Energy Efficiency

Q: What does the solar project say about Atlantic’s broader sustainability goals?

Suhel Bace (Suhel): Environmental stewardship is one of our core principles, and this project is a direct reflection of that. The 255 Brimley site features a solar array rated at over 800kW, which generates over 98% of the site’s annual energy. It’s about showing that renewable energy isn’t just possible, it’s practical and impactful.

Q: Can you explain how the solar system works at this site?

Suhel: The solar panels generate DC power from sunlight, which is routed into strings that combine and feed into the inverters. Those inverters convert DC into AC power, which runs the site. When we generate more than we consume in the summer, the excess power is sent back to the grid through net metering, giving us credits we can use in the winter months when production is lower. That’s how we achieve the 98% reduction in our electricity bill with clean energy at work year-round.

Challenges and Collaboration

Q: Were there any challenges you encountered during the project?

Suhel: Absolutely. Solar is powerful, but it comes with complexity. This was a multidisciplinary project that required close coordination with finance, environmental, and the board, along with contractors and engineers. Technically, the system isn’t bolted down; it’s secured using ballasts, which we had to carefully lift and place onto the roof after structural audits. On top of that, everything took place above an active roadway. We had to plan lifts with safety in mind, manage traffic flow, and make sure production wasn’t interrupted.

The teamwork made all the difference. Everyone from the site team to consultants and contractors came together seamlessly. People like Jessica MacMillan, Caleb Valant, and Doug Angelo played a huge role in making sure we stayed on schedule without compromising safety or operations.

Expanding Solar Across Atlantic

Q: Are there other solar initiatives at Atlantic Packaging Products?

Suhel: Yes. This is our fourth solar array, but the first system using net metering. We’ve replaced a single central inverter with several smaller ones for greater reliability and expanded the DC side to maximize production during off-peak hours. We’ve also received approval to upgrade existing systems at two other sites. Every step moves us closer to a future where renewable energy powers more of our operations.

Personal Insights and Reflections

Q: What does this project mean to you personally?

Suhel: For me, it’s more than engineering. It’s about making a tangible difference in reducing our footprint and proving that innovation can directly support sustainability. It’s rewarding to know that our work today will have a long-term impact on both Atlantic and the communities where we operate.

Q: What did you learn from leading this solar project?

Suhel: I’ve learned a lot about patience and adaptability. Managing diverse stakeholders, solving technical challenges, and ensuring alignment across teams showed me that sustainability is as much about people as it is about technology.

Q: Is there a message you’d like to share with the team about energy efficiency and sustainability?

Suhel: Energy efficiency isn’t just about reducing costs; it’s about building a stronger, cleaner, more efficient manufacturing. Every step we take as a team adds up to real impact.

Environmental Highlights of the Project 

Q: Why is the net metering solution important?

Adam Murree: This is Atlantic’s first net meter project. Unlike our previous solar arrays, this project completely offsets the building’s consumption. This approach allows us to use Brimley as a test bed to understand the real impact on the company. It sets the stage for replicating this solution at other sites, including warehouses and converting plants, and represents a pinnacle of our environmental stewardship efforts so far.

Q: What makes this solar project stand out in terms of environmental impact?

Sara Lashari: The Brimley Solar Installation is designed to generate approximately 98% of the building’s power through renewable energy. It has a measurable impact on greenhouse gas emissions and contributes directly to environmental stewardship. To illustrate, this system can power up to 100 homes or 165 apartments, showing the tangible benefits of our renewable energy investments.

“Sustainability isn’t just about technology—it’s about working together to create a future we can be proud of.”

– Suhel Bace, Energy Engineer, Atlantic Packaging Products

Q: From your perspective, what’s the most important result of this project?

Nairy Tourabian: For me, the most critical outcome is the avoidance of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). Reducing GHG is essential to addressing pollution and climate change. Atlantic has published ESG targets and is committed to achieving reductions in Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions. By generating electricity onsite from solar rather than relying on the grid, this project helps us reduce our Scope 2 emissions at this site.

A Few Notable Stats About the Brimley Array:

• Size
  • 823kW (DC)
• # of Panels
  • 1,524
• Annual Production
  • 925,317 kWh
• Building Usage
  • 943,813 kWh
• GHG emission reductions
  • 69 tonnes of CO2
  • 17 cars worth of emissions offset
  • 160 barrels of oil offset
  • 87,000 lb of coal offset

At Atlantic, energy efficiency isn’t just a project milestone; it’s a continuous commitment to pushing our own boundaries, embracing clean energy, and leading with innovation.