St Austell Brewery

St Austell Brewery is a proud independent brewer, pub company and drinks wholesaler, serving quality beer and hospitality across the South West since 1851.

System Size

600 kWp

Energy Generated

600,000 kWh/ year

Carbon Reduction

173,000kg/year

Annual ROI

20%

About St Austell Brewery

St Austell Brewery has been brewing beer and real ale in Cornwall since 1851 and runs over 170 of the most popular pubs in the South West. Their beers include Tribute, Proper Job, HSD, and Korev. St Austell Brewery is committed to minimising its environmental impact.

St Austell Brewery Bar

What was their goal?

Their goal is to reduce carbon use as much as possible in every area of the business to meet their commitment to be one of the UK’s greenest brewers. Any investment in infrastructure across the business must yield the best financial return.

Roof Mounted Solar on Commercial Building

How did we help?

Our team assessed and prioritised all carbon reduction options across the Brewery’s business, including energy efficiency measures, fleet fuel reduction and all renewable energy options. As part of the programme of works, we designed and installed a 250kW solar PV system in three phases of work between 2012 & 2015 at their Distribution Centre. We also installed a 250kWp optimised system for their Bath Ales site in early 2019.

Roof solar panels

Key System Details

  • Solar PV System & Products
  • 600 kW Solar PV across 4 separate sites
  • Various Tier 1 solar panels
  • K2, Schletter & Renusol mounting
  • Tailored solar PV solutions for different energy use profiles – brewery, distribution, hotel

  • Long-term repeat installation and maintenance relationship with the customer

  • Installed over a various years (2012 to 2019)

  • Payback: 4 to 6 years

Client testimonial

The service from ZLC Energy has been excellent throughout, with every deadline being kept without fail. ZLC Energy were in control so we didn’t have to stress about the different stages. We’ve been so impressed with the team, we’ve had them back many times to put more solar on. ZLC Energy were very professional in dealing with certificating the PV, again something we didn’t have to stress about. They kept us informed throughout the whole project with either regular meetings or correspondence, so we always knew at what stage we were. The sign-off was also very well handled and explained in full by Mark, the MD, who personally walked us through all the on-site equipment and monitoring software. I would recommend ZLC Energy for any PV project needed in the future.

Robin Freight

DipCEA Compliance Officer St Austell Brewery Co Ltd

View Our Services

  • Solar PV

    Solar is one of the most popular and effective ways for businesses to reduce costs and carbon emissions. We design and install commercial solar PV systems tailored to your site and energy goals, helping you generate clean, reliable power and become more energy independent, all with honest advice and quality workmanship.

    Learn more
  • Heat Pumps

    We help organisations heat their buildings efficiently with air and ground source heat pumps. Designed for comfort, performance, and long-term savings, our systems provide low-carbon heating for commercial, industrial, and public sector spaces.

    Learn more
  • Battery Storage

    We design smart battery storage systems that give your business greater control over its energy. Store excess power from solar or wind, reduce grid dependency, and protect your operations from rising costs, all with a future-ready solution built for resilience and reliability.

    Learn more
  • Maintenance and aftercare

    Ensure your renewable energy systems continue to deliver maximum performance with expert maintenance and aftercare. Even the most advanced systems require regular attention to stay efficient, reliable, and protect your long-term investment.

    Learn more