Some of the UK's most recognisable retail and hospitality brands are turning to off grid solar lighting, and Omnisolar is helping them make the switch. Across recent developments for Burger King, Starbucks and Euro Garages, our commercial range has delivered reliable illumination with minimal running costs, no trenching or ducting, no mains cabling and installation times measured in hours rather than weeks.
Each site came with its own operational demands, from busy drive-thru lanes to large customer car parks, and each required a lighting solution tailored to the way the site works day to day.
The Brief
While the three developments differ in scale and layout, the objectives behind them were consistent. Each client needed dependable commercial lighting that would keep customers and staff safe after dark, remove ongoing electricity costs from the operating budget, and contribute directly to their Net Zero and sustainability commitments. Speed of installation mattered too. With no trenching or underground cabling required, solar allowed each site to be lit without the disruption and civil works that come with the traditional mains powered scheme.
Burger King
For the Burger King development, the priority was clear, consistent coverage across the car park and drive-thru, the two areas where visibility does the most work for customer safety and site security.
Omnisolar supplied 32 Venus Pro-4 solar street light heads across the site. With an 8,000 lumen output, long range 360 degree PIR detection and up to 10 days of battery autonomy from 4.5 hours of charge, the Venus Pro-4 delivers dependable performance through the winter months while the site will pay no running cost for the exterior fittings provided.
- 32 x Venus Pro-4 solar street light heads
- Car park and drive-thru coverage
- Fully off grid with zero annual running costs
Starbucks
The Starbucks project carried a specific environmental requirement. The development needed lighting that would actively support its Net Zero compliance goals, not just reduce its energy use.
Omnisolar specified the Vista O2, a 6,000 lumen luminaire with an auto CCT mode designed for compliance, 4.5 hour solar charging and up to 7 days of battery autonomy. Optional hybrid connectivity gives the site additional flexibility for the future.
- Vista O2 solar luminaires
- Car park and drive-thru coverage
- Auto CCT mode supporting Net Zero compliance
Euro Garages
Roadside service stations run around the clock, so lighting reliability is non negotiable. For the Euro Garages development, Omnisolar supplied 12 Venus Pro-2 solar luminaires to provide complete site illumination.
The Venus Pro-2 is built for exactly this kind of duty. A 4,000 lumen output, up to 10 days of battery autonomy and integrated battery heating and cooling keep performance consistent year round, while fully replaceable components keep long term maintenance simple and low cost.
- 12 x Venus Pro-2 solar luminaires
- Complete site illumination
- Low maintenance design with replaceable components
The Process
Because every luminaire is fully off grid, none of the three installations required trenching, underground cabling or a mains connection. Civil works were eliminated almost entirely, which meant faster installs, minimal disruption to trading sites, and no ongoing dependence on the grid.
The Benefits
Across all three developments, the results speak for themselves:
- Zero annual electricity costs
- No trenching or underground cabling
- Significantly reduced installation time
- Lower long term maintenance
- Improved visibility and safety for customers and staff
- Reduced carbon emissions in support of Net Zero targets
- Reliable all year round performance, even with low sunlight periods
Whether it is a restaurant drive-thru, a retail car park or a roadside service station, these projects show what commercial solar lighting looks like when it is done properly: sustainable, cost effective and installed with almost no disruption to the site.
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