283.8 kWh Commercial Battery Storage Installation at Esso Hylands Service Station, Surrey

Esso Hylands Service Station in Great Bookham, Surrey is one of the busiest independent forecourts in the South East — operating 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. With refrigeration units, lighting, EV chargers, EPOS systems, and retail operations running around the clock, the station consumes a staggering 345,000 kWh of electricity annually — equivalent to approximately 85 average UK homes.

When Hylands Group Ltd approached Sol4r Energy about reducing their electricity costs, the challenge was clear: with annual energy bills exceeding £127,000 and rising every year, the station needed a solution that could deliver massive savings without disrupting operations. The answer was a 283.8 kWh commercial FoxESS battery storage system — one of the largest single-site battery installations Sol4r Energy has delivered — designed to exploit the price differential between cheap overnight electricity and expensive daytime rates through intelligent tariff arbitrage.

This project builds on Sol4r Energy's previous work at the station, where we installed a 41.25 kWp solar panel system — the first-ever solar installation on an Esso petrol station in the UK. The addition of battery storage transforms the station's energy economics from significant to extraordinary, creating a complete energy management solution that will save the business over £2.19 million over 25 years.

To put the scale of this installation in perspective: the 283.8 kWh battery bank stores enough electricity to power 10 average UK homes for an entire day. The system cycles daily, discharging 186,457 kWh per year — equivalent to the annual consumption of 46 homes — all through intelligent tariff optimisation on the Octopus Energy Intelligent tariff. This isn't a battery that sits idle for emergencies — it's a revenue-generating asset that works every single day.

Electrical Work On-Site

Roof-Mounted Solar Array

Sol4r Energy On-Site at Esso Hylands

Solar Panel Close-Up

6 × FoxESS H3-Pro-30.0 hybrid inverters (180kW total), 66 × FoxESS battery modules (283.8 kWh total capacity), and Smartfox Pro 2 smart metering — all installed by Sol4r Energy's in-house team at Esso Hylands Service Station, Great Bookham, Surrey.

Every component in this commercial battery storage installation at Esso Hylands was selected for industrial-grade reliability, three-phase compatibility, and maximum throughput. The system is designed to cycle daily at scale — moving 186,457 kWh per year through the battery bank. Sol4r Energy only uses premium battery storage systems with comprehensive manufacturer warranties:

The strategy is straightforward but devastatingly effective: the 283.8 kWh battery bank charges overnight at just 7p/kWh and discharges during daytime trading hours at 31p/kWh — a spread of 24p on every kilowatt-hour. At 186,457 kWh cycled annually, the savings are enormous. Combined with the station's existing 41.25 kWp solar system, Esso Hylands now has one of the most advanced commercial energy management systems of any forecourt in the UK. For businesses in Surrey, the South East, London and across the UK consuming significant electricity, commercial battery storage delivers returns that no other capital investment can match.

Every single month delivers thousands of pounds in savings — driven by the price differential between overnight and daytime electricity rates on the Octopus Intelligent tariff:

Utility savings based on switch from Standard Variable to Octopus Energy Intelligent tariff. Projections assume 7% annual energy price increase. Consumption based on estimated usage of 345,000 kWh per year.

The financial case for this installation is extraordinary. A £97,656 investment that pays for itself in under three years and then delivers escalating returns for over two decades. With energy prices projected to rise by 7% annually, the savings compound dramatically — from £36,210 in Year 1 to £87,261 by 2038 and £183,672 by 2049. The net present value of £774,626 (discounted at 6.75%) confirms this is one of the highest-returning capital investments available to any commercial business.

For petrol stations, service stations, supermarkets, data centres, hotels, and any high-consumption commercial premises in Surrey, London, the South East and across the UK, commercial battery storage consistently outperforms every other infrastructure investment. Book a free site survey to find out what battery storage could save your business.

Estimates do not include replacement costs of equipment not covered by warranty. Components may need replacement after their warranty period. Financial discount rate assumed: 6.75%.

From first solar to full energy transformation

Sol4r Energy's relationship with Hylands Group Ltd began with the first-ever solar installation on an Esso petrol station — a 41.25 kWp system that proved commercial solar works on forecourts. The addition of 283.8 kWh battery storage completes the energy transformation, delivering savings that dwarf the original solar installation.

⛽ Phase 1: Solar (41.25 kWp) 75 Sharp 550W panels — the first solar installation on any Esso station in the UK, generating ~50,000 kWh/year.

🔋 Phase 2: Battery (283.8 kWh) 66 FoxESS battery modules with 180kW inverter capacity — £36,210 annual savings through tariff arbitrage.

💷 Combined Annual Savings Solar generation + battery arbitrage together deliver the most comprehensive energy cost reduction of any forecourt in the UK.

🏆 Industry First This project has sparked inquiries from other Esso franchises and independent forecourt operators across the country.

All certifications issued on completion. Sol4r Energy is HIES-registered, NAPIT-approved, TrustMark-endorsed, and ISO 9001:2015 certified — the highest level of consumer protection for solar and battery installations in the UK.

Finance option available through Phoenix Financial Consultants Limited.

All finance applications are subject to status and approval by Phoenix Financial Consultants Limited. Sol4r Energy Ltd is an Introducer Appointed Representative (Financial Services Register No. 1005252) of Phoenix Financial Consultants Limited (FRN: 539195), which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Phoenix Financial Consultants Limited is a credit broker, not a lender.