West Sussex hotel installs £300,000 solar and battery system to cut energy bills and carbon emissions

Avisford Park Hotel in West Sussex has completed a £300,000 installation of solar panels and battery storage. The 163.24 kWp system, designed by Novalux Solar, uses 308 bifacial panels mounted on a former tennis court and includes 200 kWh of battery capacity. It is expected to generate around 161,000 kWh of clean electricity per year and reduce the hotel's carbon emissions by an estimated 33 tonnes annually. Managing director Jason Hiley said the investment addresses rising energy costs and guest expectations for sustainability. The hotel, which has 140 rooms, a restaurant, and event spaces, will generate electricity at roughly 5.88p per unit over the system's 25-year lifespan, well below current grid rates. The battery storage is critical because the hotel's peak electricity use does not align with peak sunshine hours. This project shows how commercial buildings can pair solar with storage to lower operating costs and carbon footprints. It also highlights the growing trend of hospitality businesses investing in on-site renewables as a hedge against volatile energy prices.