Why Solar Energy is Becoming a Lifeline for Hospitality Businesses.
The bigger picture: hospitality businesses are under pressure
The UK’s hospitality industry has been through one of its most difficult decades. After COVID-19 closures and staff shortages came soaring food prices, record-high energy costs, and an increase in the national minimum wage, squeezing already thin margins for pubs, restaurants, and hotels.
Many operators are being forced to choose between raising prices, reducing hours, or tragically closing their doors for good. In this context, sustainability initiatives like solar PV are no longer just “nice to have” PR wins. They’re becoming a financial survival strategy.
A portfolio-wide solar strategy for a hospitality giant:
Recognising this shift, one of the UK’s largest operators of pubs, bars, and restaurants turned to Carbon3 to help them implement a large-scale solar PV programme.
With a portfolio of 1,700+ venues, our client saw solar as a way to control energy costs, reduce emissions, and add long-term resilience to its operations in the face of volatile market conditions.
Carbon3 was appointed as principal contractor to identify, survey, install, and maintain solar systems across the estate. We’ve been delivering complex works on live, customer-facing sites, without disrupting day-to-day trading.
How the project works:
In the first year alone, Carbon3 successfully delivered solar PV systems at 125 sites, with more installations already in progress. By the end of year two, the programme is on track to generate 5,250 MWh of clean electricity annually, powering hundreds of restaurants every year.
Key features of the programme include:
- Directly employed engineers and project managers to maintain control over quality, H&S, and scheduling
- 100% health and safety compliance across all sites, with zero incidents
- Smart logistics planning to ensure zero disruption to customers or site operations
- Use of local contractors where possible to reduce carbon impact and support local economies
- Tailored O&M contracts, including live monitoring, fault detection, and direct client support
- Client training for ESG reporting and system understanding
Tackling challenging urban sites:
Beyond pubs and restaurants, Carbon3 was also commissioned to install solar PV at the client’s six-storey head office in central Birmingham. With restricted access, Carbon3 coordinated a temporary road closure and crane lift on a busy main road, working directly with local authorities to deliver the project safely, on time, and with minimal disruption.
This urban install exemplifies Carbon3’s ability to manage highly logistical, high-risk environments. These skills are essential for national operators with diverse estates.
The renewable energy rollout allows M&B to protect against energy market volatility, reduce Scope 2 emissions across their estate, and support their wider ESG goals with tangible, measurable outcomes.
Beyond cost savings:
For hospitality businesses, rising energy bills threaten the future of local community assets. By investing in solar, our client is:
Reducing its long-term utility spend
Enhancing its brand reputation with sustainability-minded consumers and investors
Creating more predictable cost structures in an unpredictable market
Ensuring venues remain accessible and affordable for the general public
Solar PV gives operators control in a climate of uncertainty, both environmentally and commercially.
The takeaway for hospitality operators:
If you operate a chain of restaurants, pubs, hotels, or venues, solar energy might be your most effective hedge against rising energy costs. Carbon3 helps hospitality clients roll out low-disruption, scalable solar programmes that deliver savings and certainty without slowing service.
Worried about rising costs? Email us for a free quote today.
