Haven announces £18 million investment in solar panel and energy saving measures across parks
- Blackstone-backed company announces significant £18 million of solar panel developments capable of generating up to 9MW, enough to power more than 8,000 homes per year
- Investment supports current plans to target a minimum 15% reduction in carbon emissions by 2024[1]
- 80% of Haven guests say investment in green energy is important
London, 2 February 2023, Haven, the UK’s leading holiday park operator and a Blackstone portfolio company, has announced a commitment to invest £18 million in energy-saving measures this year across 39 of its 41 parks.
This substantial investment, supported by Haven guests, will significantly reduce the carbon footprint of the more than three million guests and 25,000 holiday homeowners who visit the parks.
Haven’s investment plans include over £13 million for solar panel installations and £5m for decarbonization initiatives.
These timely upgrades are meeting the growing demand for eco-friendly holidays, with over 80% of Haven guests agreeing that green energy is important to them, and around 70% saying there should be more solar panels installed on parks.[2]
The new solar panels are being installed in parks with main facilities buildings and will provide a generation capability of 9MWp, enough to power more than 8,000 UK households per year and the equivalent to ~10% of the total energy that the parks use. In addition, new air-source heat pumps are also being installed at three park swimming pool buildings.
The solar installations will be completed in June 2024.
This latest investment also includes £5 million for decarbonisation initiatives such as the installation of Building Management Systems to remotely control equipment set points and efficiency levels, another investment is to provide data monitoring systems with interactive alarms to indicate any overconsumption of electric, gas and water, plus state-of-the-art refrigeration upgrades with optimisation tools and energy saving technologies.
Simon Palethorpe, Managing Director at Haven, said: “We are on a mission to reduce our carbon emissions by 15% by the end of 2024. This investment of £16 million builds on our commitment to caring for people, parks and the planet. We want everyone to be involved at our holiday parks which is why we are engaging our supply chain and working with our team and holidaymakers alike in our ‘keen to be green’ efforts. These fit-for-future investments put sustainability at the heart of family staycations and are a great addition to our promise to give incredible value to guests and owners”.
Acquired by Blackstone in 2021, Haven has already invested almost £230 million in parks across 2021 and 2022. With a commitment to upgrading and modernising all holiday sites to offer guests an unforgettable holiday experience, this latest investment is part of over £170 million that has been spent across 41 Haven’s coastal holiday parks in 2023.
Adam Shah, Head of Real Estate Asset Management Europe at Blackstone, said: “We’re committed to upgrading and modernising Haven’s holiday sites to offer guests an unforgettable holiday experience. This latest investment into energy saving measures will help future-proof the business and meet growing customer demand for more sustainable holidays.”
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About Haven:
As one of Britain’s leading family holiday companies Haven own and operate 41 award-winning family holiday parks throughout England, Scotland and Wales. They offer a full programme of activities and entertainment alongside being located next to some of Britain’s most beautiful beaches and brightest resorts, making them a great base for exploring the local area.
About Blackstone:
Blackstone is the world’s largest alternative asset manager. We seek to create positive economic impact and long-term value for our investors. We do this by relying on extraordinary people and flexible capital to help strengthen the companies we invest in. Our over $1 trillion in assets under management include investment vehicles focused on private equity, real estate, public debt and equity, infrastructure, life sciences, growth equity, opportunistic, non-investment grade credit, real assets and secondary funds, all on a global basis.
Contact Information
Kate Backhouse
Notes to editors
Notes to editor:
In addition to this year’s extensive solar panel and energy-saving investment planned across the country, here is a roundup of the recent Haven developments that have already taken place as part of its ‘keen to be green’ aims:
- Since 2019, over 250,000 high-energy lights have been swapped to LED and 1,000s of solar streetlights and bollards have been installed across parks.
- Across parks, 23 small heat plants have been installed to give self-generated electric, along with air handling units with heat recovery and heat pumps to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions.
- Wherever possible, the energy consumption of pumps is reduced using VSD Technology (Variable Speed Drive Technology) so instead of running at a fixed speed an electronic power controller the electrical supply can be adjusted, and energy conserved accordingly.
- 32 windcatchers have been installed, which provide natural ventilation with solar-powered fans and dampers that reduce the need of air conditioning.
- All non-electric vehicles are being phased out (with no more orders of any petrol or diesel vehicles).
- All 41 Haven parks have designated Utilities Sustainability Champions who are responsible for reducing energy and water waste and engaging fellow team members, guests, and holiday homeowners to also do the right thing.
- Over 80% of Haven guests interviewed for its 2022 Sustainability Survey, agreed that green energy is important to them and 67% agreed that there should be more solar panels installed on parks.
[1] Compared to 2019 carbon usage
[2] Source: Haven’s 2022 Sustainability Survey.