Hotel Solar Install Timeline — Week by Week

UK hotel solar installs run on a 6-12 month timeline from first call to commissioning, with substantial variation driven by property characteristics (heritage status, brand engineering requirements, grid connection complexity) and commercial structure (owner-operator vs managed contract vs franchise).

Week 0-1 — Feasibility

Free desk-based feasibility from 12 months of half-hourly meter data, roof drawings, and (for heritage properties) any prior Listed Building Consent documentation. Indicative proposal in 7 working days. PVSyst modelling, capex range, payback estimate, funding route comparison.

Week 2-4 — On-site survey + brand engineering engagement

Structural and electrical engineer site visit. For Hilton, IHG, Marriott, Accor, Whitbread properties, brand engineering and sustainability team engagement starts in parallel. Pre-application Listed Building Consent meeting (for heritage properties) typically scheduled here.

Week 4-14 — Consents and DNO connection (parallel-tracked)

Listed Building Consent submission and determination (8-14 weeks for Grade II). G99 grid connection application to local DNO (6-14 weeks). Brand engineering technical approval (4-12 weeks). PPA / asset finance / AIA paperwork concurrent.

Week 14-22 — Mobilisation and install

Roof access scaffolding, panel installation, inverter and DC cabling, AC connection. 2-6 weeks for boutique-scale installs (30-120 kW), 4-10 weeks for chain hotel scale (100-500 kW). Scheduled around occupancy and event commitments — no wedding weekends, no corporate-events weeks.

Week 22-24 — Grid synchronisation and commissioning

Grid sync outage typically 4-8 hours, scheduled for a low-occupancy night or check-out window. PVSyst-modelled output verification across the first week of operation. Brand monitoring platform integration (LightStay, MyEnergy, Green Engage, Planet 21 as applicable).

Week 24+ — Sustainability marketing deployment

Lobby live-generation display, venue sustainability page on the booking website, sustainability evidence pack for corporate-events RFP team, brand platform reporting integration. Wedding close-rate and corporate-events RFP win-rate improvements typically observable from month 3 onwards.

See hotel solar cost and grants and funding for the cost detail at each phase.