Case study · Hospitality · Hertfordshire
Solar + battery for a hotel that never sleeps.
A country hotel with 24/7 occupancy, two restaurants, and a kitchen that can’t go dark for ten seconds. 85kW solar plus 100kWh battery, with backup power for the gas-replacement induction hobs.
85kW
Solar Capacity
100kWh
Battery Storage
80%
Self-Consumption
£28k
Annual Savings
The Challenge
A 45-room country house hotel in Hertfordshire operated 24/7 with significant energy demands across multiple areas:
- Guest rooms with individual climate control
- Restaurant kitchen with commercial equipment
- Conference and events facilities
- Spa with heated pool and treatment rooms
- Extensive grounds requiring external lighting
Annual electricity bills exceeded £45,000, and the hotel had experienced several power outages that significantly impacted guest experience and operations. The owners wanted to reduce costs, improve resilience, and demonstrate environmental credentials to attract eco-conscious guests.
Our Solution
We designed an integrated solar and battery system that maximises self-consumption while providing backup power for critical systems:
Solar PV System
- 185 solar panels - 460W high-efficiency panels across multiple roof areas
- Sensitive installation - Panels positioned to minimise visual impact from the grounds
- Multiple orientations - Spread generation throughout the day
- Hybrid inverters - Integrated solar and battery management
Battery Storage
- 100kWh capacity - Multiple battery units for scalability
- Peak shaving - Reduces maximum demand charges
- Evening consumption - Powers restaurant and guest areas after dark
- Backup power - Critical systems protected during outages
Technical Specifications
Solar System
- System capacity: 85kWp
- Panel type: Trina Vertex 460W
- Number of panels: 185
- Inverter: SolarEdge hybrid (x3)
- Annual generation: 77,000 kWh
- Roof areas: 3 buildings
Battery System
- Total capacity: 100kWh
- Usable capacity: 95kWh
- Chemistry: Lithium iron phosphate
- Cycles: 6,000+ rated
- Backup power: Essential circuits
- Warranty: 10 years
Results
After 18 months of operation, the system has exceeded expectations:
£28,000
Annual savings
80%
Self-consumption rate
2
Outages avoided with backup
Financial Summary
- Total investment: £145,000 (solar + battery)
- Annual savings: £28,000
- Payback period: 5.2 years
- 25-year projected savings: £650,000+
- Additional benefit: Marketing as eco-friendly venue
Guest and Marketing Impact
Beyond the financial benefits, the installation has delivered significant marketing value:
- Featured in sustainable hospitality awards
- Solar installation mentioned in 15% of TripAdvisor reviews
- Secured corporate bookings from sustainability-focused companies
- 4 EV chargers added for guest use, powered by solar
"The battery backup proved its worth during a grid outage last winter. While neighbouring businesses lost power, our guests never noticed - the restaurant, reception, and essential room systems kept running seamlessly."
Planning a Hospitality Project?
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