Solar Panels for Hotels
Hotel Solar Panels Installed by Spirit Energy
Award Winning Solar Installers since 2010

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Why Hotels Should Consider Solar Panels

Choosing solar power is one of the most effective ways for a hotel or a resort to cut energy costs and stand out as a sustainable site. As national grids face growing strain from electrification and the rising energy demand of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, generating clean power on-site helps reduce exposure to grid outages and volatile electricity tariffs.

Guests increasingly look for a green hotel experience, and showcasing your property as a hotel with solar panels helps meet this demand while supporting long-term carbon reduction targets.

Spirit Energy has equipped many hotels with solar power. Here are some of our projects: Old Thorns Hotel and Resort and St. Giles Hotel.

Contact Spirit Energy to explore commercial PV for your business.

Do Solar Panels Make Sense
for Hotels?

By investing in renewable energy, hotels and resorts can position themselves as leaders in the growing market for sustainable and eco-friendly hospitality sites.

Solar panels make practical and financial sense for hotels because they can generate clean electricity to power a wide range of energy-intensive facilities. From 24/7 lighting in guest rooms, corridors, and lobbies, to heating and cooling systems, kitchens, restaurants, and laundry rooms, a hotel with solar panels can significantly reduce its reliance on the grid.

A solar powered hotel can also offset the electricity used by lifts, swimming pools, gyms, spas, and EV charging stations. Beyond lowering costs, this shift helps create a sustainable hotel experience that appeals to eco-conscious travellers looking for green hotels and eco-friendly hotels.

What is the Payback Period for Hotel Solar?

For hotels, the payback period of a solar panel system is typically around 4 to 8 years in the UK, depending on factors such as system size, roof suitability, installation cost, and energy tariffs.

Because hotels operate with high and consistent electricity demand, powering guest room lighting, laundry rooms, kitchens, HVAC systems, swimming pools, spas, and EV charging, they usually achieve high self-consumption rates, which shortens the return on investment.

	Payback Period	Internal Rate of Return (IRR)
Old Thorns Hotel and Resort	6 years	19%
Premier Inn Salisbury	8 years	12%

Solar Power and Sustainable Hotels

Switching to solar power helps hotels move towards net zero and strengthen their ESG reporting. On-site generation cuts Scope 2 emissions, improves EPC ratings, and supports compliance with carbon reduction frameworks such as the UK Hospitality Net Zero Roadmap.

At the same time, solar enhances the guest experience. Travellers now expect green hotels with visible sustainability measures, from EV chargers to renewable energy systems. Presenting your property as a solar-powered hotel shows that every stay contributes to a cleaner, low-carbon future.

Solar panels bring hotels a mix of financial, operational, and branding benefits. By generating electricity on-site, a hotel with solar panels can cut energy bills, reduce exposure to rising tariffs, and achieve faster payback thanks to high daytime demand from laundry rooms, kitchens, lighting, HVAC systems, pools, and spas. A solar powered hotel also lowers its carbon footprint and supports net zero or sustainability targets, which is increasingly important for corporate ESG commitments. From a guest perspective, promoting your property as a green hotel or eco-friendly hotel enhances brand appeal, attracting environmentally conscious travellers.

The number depends on your energy use, roof space, and goals. A medium-sized hotel typically needs a system of 100–300 kWp, which could be 200–600 panels, to cover a significant share of demand from lighting, laundry, kitchens, and HVAC systems.

Solar can offset much of a hotel’s energy use, from guest room lighting and lifts to laundry rooms, swimming pools, spas, and even EV charging stations. Battery storage can extend the benefit into evening hours.

Yes. Resorts, motels, and other accommodation providers often benefit even more due to large roof areas and consistent electricity needs. Each installation is tailored to the site’s specific demand and facilities.

Solar panels will still generate power on cloudy days for your hotel, though output is lower. Hotels can use grid electricity when needed, and many combine solar with battery storage to ensure reliable supply even at night.

Yes. Lower energy bills and long-term savings make a hotel more attractive to investors and operators. A hotel with solar panels is often seen as more future-proof and better aligned with sustainability goals.

Our Biggest Solar Hotel Project

At Old Thorns Hotel and Resort, Spirit Energy installed a 217 kWp solar PV system using 572 high-efficiency panels across multiple roof areas. Designed to match the site’s high daytime demand from guest rooms, kitchens, leisure facilities, and event spaces, the system generates over 200,000 kWh per year and cuts carbon emissions by more than 90 tonnes annually.

This investment not only lowers running costs but also enhances the resort’s reputation as a sustainable and eco-friendly destination.

Have You Thought About EV Charging Stations for your Hotel?

Installing EV charging points is an excellent way for hotels to stand out and add value for guests. With the number of electric vehicles on UK roads growing rapidly, travellers increasingly expect convenient charging when they book accommodation.

By pairing solar panels with EV chargers, a hotel can offer guests the ability to top up their cars with clean, renewable energy during their stay.

Watch our short video on charging EVs from solar to learn how to maximize the efficiency of your system.

Solar PV Experts

With energy costs continuing to rise and the pressure to meet sustainability targets, switching to solar is a practical way to cut running expenses and show a clear commitment to sustainable operations.

Spirit Energy specialises in solar for hotels, offering clear advice on system design, expected performance and the financial returns you could achieve.

Spirit Energy's 100% in-house design and installation team helps businesses make the most effective use of their roof area and tailors solutions that fit both their budget and long-term plans. Installations are built with future expansion in mind, allowing additional capacity to be added as needs grow.

Vishal Giga
Operations Director

Joined Spirit in 2010

Vishal joined Spirit Energy a few months after Erica and Ian founded the business in 2010 as a project manager, and is now our Operations Director. All of our project managers and installers are in-house, and Vishal oversees them all and is in charge of making sure that every project goes smoothly and is installed on time. Vish has a wealth of experience with both commercial and residential projects, and directly manages every commercial project that we do, including our installations at Philip Dennis Foodservice in April 2024, and Hansgrohe's headquarters in September 2024.

Justin Parsons
Head of Installations

Joined Spirit in 2010

Justin is the backbone of the company and part of the leadership team. He has overall responsibility for the installers, electrical design and sign off of all systems as well doing a technical and structural survey for every project to ensure we can manage each job perfectly. His devotion and meticulous attention to detail has helped build Spirit into the reputable and trustworthy brand we are today.

You will most likely meet Justin on your technical & structural survey where he will plan your entire installation and run you through every minute detail.

Although care is taken to ensure that the information on our website (www.spiritenergy.co.uk) and any guides, calculators or checklists provided by us, electronically or otherwise, are accurate and up-to-date, we cannot accept any responsibility for mistakes or omissions. We enter into no express or implied conditions, warranties, terms or representations regarding the quality, accuracy or completeness of the information. We exclude to the extent lawfully permitted all liability for loss or damage, whether direct, indirect or consequential arising out of your use of our website or any guides, calculators or checklists provided by us, or from any information or omission contained in our website or any guides, calculators or checklists provided by us.

Solar Panels for Hotels
Hotel Solar Panels Installed by Spirit Energy
Award Winning Solar Installers since 2010

Why Hotels Should Consider Solar Panels

Do Solar Panels Make Sense
for Hotels?

Should Businesses Invest in Solar? - Spirit Energy YouTube Case Study.

Old Thorns Hotel and Golf Club Solar PV Installation by Spirit Energy

What is the Payback Period for Hotel Solar?

Solar Power and Sustainable Hotels

FAQ

Our Biggest Solar Hotel Project

Have You Thought About EV Charging Stations for your Hotel?

Solar PV Experts

Vishal Giga
Operations Director

Joined Spirit in 2010

Justin Parsons
Head of Installations

Joined Spirit in 2010

Solar Panels for Hotels Hotel Solar Panels Installed by Spirit Energy Award Winning Solar Installers since 2010

Why Hotels Should Consider Solar Panels

Do Solar Panels Make Sense for Hotels?

Should Businesses Invest in Solar? - Spirit Energy YouTube Case Study.

Old Thorns Hotel and Golf Club Solar PV Installation by Spirit Energy

What is the Payback Period for Hotel Solar?

Solar Power and Sustainable Hotels

FAQ

Our Biggest Solar Hotel Project

Have You Thought About EV Charging Stations for your Hotel?

Solar PV Experts

Vishal GigaOperations Director

Joined Spirit in 2010

Justin ParsonsHead of Installations

Joined Spirit in 2010

Solar Panels for Hotels
Hotel Solar Panels Installed by Spirit Energy
Award Winning Solar Installers since 2010

Do Solar Panels Make Sense
for Hotels?

Vishal Giga
Operations Director

Justin Parsons
Head of Installations