This was the big one. Kuoni — one of the most recognised luxury travel brands in the world — asked us to design and install a large-scale commercial solar system at their UK headquarters in Dorking Business Park. 92 panels across a flat commercial roof. Two 20 kW inverters. Full bird protection, commercial-grade cable management, RAMS documentation. Our largest project to date, and a completely different scale of work to anything residential.
Kuoni wanted to maximise generation from the available roof space, ensure full compliance with commercial building regulations, and deliver measurable energy cost savings. With a large flat commercial roof and a corporate commitment to reducing their carbon footprint, it was an ideal property for a significant installation. The challenge was designing a system that delivered on all of those requirements while working around an active business premises.
| Component | Specification |
|---|---|
| System Size | 39.16 kWp — our largest commercial installation |
| Array 1 | 47 x AIKO Solar Neostar 2S 455W panels |
| Array 2 | 45 x Canadian Solar HiKu6 395W panels |
| Total Panels | 92 across 5 strings on flat commercial roof |
| Inverters | 2 x FoxESS H3-Pro-20.0 (20 kW each, 40 kW total) |
| Roof Protection | Full bird protection mesh across all arrays |
| Cable Management | Commercial-grade flat roof system |
| Safety | Full RAMS documentation |
| Certifications | MCS, NAPIT, Part P, EIC certificate, DNO approval |
The dual panel configuration — AIKO 455W and Canadian Solar 395W — was not arbitrary. Different sections of the flat roof had different characteristics, and we specified the panel type for each section to optimise coverage and generation across the whole area. The two FoxESS 20 kW hybrid inverters were chosen to handle the high DC output from 92 panels across 5 separate strings.
A project like this requires detailed structural assessment, wind loading calculations and careful design of the flat roof mounting system. Commercial-grade cable management was essential to protect the flat roof membrane. Bird protection mesh was fitted across every array to prevent nesting and debris buildup — critical for long-term performance on flat roofs where birds love to nest under panels.
The entire project was coordinated around Kuoni’s business operations. Their staff were working in the building throughout, so disruption had to be minimised. We delivered the project with full RAMS documentation and a complete handover pack including all compliance documentation and warranties.
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| Annual generation | 40,200 kWh |
| Self-consumption | 40% |
| Total inverter capacity | 40 kW |
| CO₂ reduction | ~9.3 tonnes per year |
| Project value | £95,972 inc VAT |
40,200 kWh per year. That is one of the most powerful commercial solar installations we have delivered. With 40% self-consumption, Kuoni is using a significant portion of that energy directly, and any surplus is exported under the Smart Export Guarantee.
Kuoni left a positive review after the project was completed, praising the quality of the installation and the professionalism of the team. For us, this project was a milestone — proof that we can deliver at commercial scale with the same attention to detail we put into every residential job.
A 39.16 kWp commercial solar installation — 92 panels across 5 strings — generating 40,200 kWh per year for one of the UK’s best-known travel brands. Fully MCS certified, NAPIT approved and delivered with complete compliance documentation.
