Case Study
62.92kWp rooftop solar panel system for a Scottish hotel
Central Sparks supported the delivery of a commercial rooftop solar PV system for a hotel near Aberfoyle, Scotland.
The client wanted to reduce operational energy costs and improve the hotel’s sustainability profile. With electricity representing a significant overhead, the business was looking for a practical way to generate renewable energy on-site and reduce reliance on grid electricity during daylight hours.
The completed system included 143 x 435W Aiko modules and a total system size of 62.92kWp. The project was commissioned in March 2024 and completed over a two-week project duration.
Reducing hotel energy costs without disrupting guests or neighbours
Hotels can be energy-intensive businesses, with demand from lighting, heating, catering, laundry, guest facilities and general day-to-day operations. For this hotel near Aberfoyle, energy was a significant overhead.
The client wanted to explore whether a rooftop solar PV system could help power the facility during daylight hours, reduce long-term electricity costs and strengthen its sustainability credentials.
The project needed to:
The client also needed confidence that the installation could be delivered efficiently and professionally within a live hospitality environment.
Commercial solar PV system details
The completed system included:
The system was designed around the client’s energy usage, roof suitability and financial return expectations.
Key performance figures
This commercial solar PV installation was projected to deliver:
The high self-consumption rate was especially important for this project, as it meant a large proportion of the solar electricity generated could be used directly by the hotel rather than exported back to the grid.
A south-west facing rooftop solar PV system
A full feasibility assessment was completed before the system was designed and installed.
This included:
Following this assessment, a 62.92kWp rooftop solar PV system was designed using high-efficiency monocrystalline panels and Solis string inverter technology.
The system was optimally laid out across the hotel’s south-west facing roof section, helping the client make effective use of available roof space and generate renewable electricity during daylight hours.
As with many rooftop solar installations in Scotland, weather conditions affected some installation days. The project team managed this by adjusting crew allocation and working around suitable installation windows.
The local DNO required export limitation. This was resolved using a G100-compliant export control system, with export limited to 200kWp in line with the project requirements.
The installation was carefully planned in phases to avoid unnecessary disruption. No site shutdown was required, helping the hotel continue operating while the project was delivered.
For a hospitality business, this was particularly important because guest experience, staff operations and neighbouring properties all needed to be considered.
A hotel solar PV system delivered on time and within budget
The Aberfoyle hotel solar PV system was successfully commissioned on time and within budget.
Following completion, the client reported a noticeable reduction in energy bills. The hotel also planned to explore future expansion of the system, potentially including battery storage as prices continue to decline.
The project gave the client a practical renewable energy system designed to reduce operating costs, support sustainability goals and improve long-term energy resilience.
If you operate a hotel, hospitality venue or commercial premises and want to reduce energy costs, Central Sparks can help assess whether solar PV is right for your site.
We can support your project from feasibility and planning through to installation, commissioning and handover.
