Powering a Tyrone B&B: How Solar Panels Transformed Our Business

The Challenge: Rising Electricity Costs at a Tyrone B&B

Running a bed and breakfast is a rewarding business, but the overheads can be challenging. For Gráinne Clarke, who runs a 5-bedroom B&B just outside Dungannon, electricity was consistently one of the top three expenses — alongside food and insurance. With guests expecting well-lit rooms, hot showers, full Irish breakfasts, and reliable Wi-Fi, electricity consumption is substantial and non-negotiable.

"Our monthly electricity bill was averaging £380–£420," Gráinne explains. "With 5 en-suite rooms, constant laundry, and a commercial kitchen, we were using approximately 14,000–16,000 kWh per year. The SEG payments we were getting didn't make a dent — we needed to reduce our actual consumption."

The Solution: A Commercial-Grade Solar Installation

Solar Tyrone designed a 6kW system with 16 LONGi panels installed on the south-facing roof of the main house. Given the B&B's high daytime occupancy (laundry, cleaning, cooking, guest use), a battery wasn't recommended — most solar generation would be consumed directly by the business.

"The installation took two days rather than one, because of the system size and the need to coordinate around guest check-in times," says Gráinne. "The team from Solar Tyrone were brilliant — they worked around our schedule and caused zero disruption. Our guests barely noticed."

The Results After One Year

After a full year of generation data, the results exceeded expectations:

• Annual generation: 5,100 kWh
• Self-consumed: 4,300 kWh (85%)
• Exported (SEG income): 800 kWh × 4.5p = £36 per year
• Annual bill reduction: From £4,680 to £1,850 — a saving of £2,830 per year
• Payback period: 3.2 years (system cost £9,200)

"The payback period was the thing that surprised me most," says Gráinne. "I'd been told 6–8 years for domestic properties, but our B&B uses so much electricity during the day that the savings are enormous. We essentially eliminated two-thirds of our electricity bill."

Business Benefits Beyond Electricity Savings

The solar installation has brought additional business advantages that Gráinne hadn't anticipated:

• Guest appeal: Several guests have specifically mentioned the solar panels positively in reviews, and the B&B's green credentials now feature prominently on booking platforms.
• Competitive advantage: Gráinne can keep room rates competitive because her overheads are lower than similar B&Bs in the area.
• Energy security: During a power cut in November, the system continued to generate (during daylight), keeping essential services running.