Brewer makes major step towards green future with new solar panel investment

A brewer has taken a major step towards a greener future with a £550,000 solar panel investment.

Lancashire-based Thwaites, which operates pubs and hotels across England, has installed the new system at its head office in Mellor.

The brewer says the solar panels are expected to cover 100 per cent of the energy needed for the head office building throughout the year.

Rick Bailey, executive chairman at Thwaites, said: “At Thwaites, we believe that warm hospitality and caring for the environment go hand in hand.

“Bringing renewable energy to our everyday hotel operations means we’re not only creating relaxing spaces for our guests, but we’re also playing our part in protecting the future of the planet.

“It’s rewarding to see what we’ve achieved so far, and we’re committed to making an even bigger difference.”

Including the demands of car chargers and the on-site brewery, the solar panels will cover about 54 per cent of the site’s total energy use each year.

Excluding car charging, the site is expected to come close to achieving net zero.

The project was delivered in partnership with renewable energy specialists Manatec.

A similar scheme has also been completed at Thwaites’ Aztec Hotel & Spa in Bristol, where 790 panels have been installed across the hotel and The Lodge.

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The Bristol panels are expected to supply around 23 per cent of the site’s total electricity use and save approximately 71 tonnes of CO2 emissions each year.

This marks Thwaites’ second large-scale solar project, following a previous installation of 600 panels at Thorpe Park Hotel in Leeds.

The company was recently named a Sustainability Champion by the British Institution of Innkeepers.