Rooftop solar panels are to be installed on a further 70 Premier Inn hotels.

The plan is part of parent company Whitbread’s nationwide solar programme, following its previous scheme which installed solar panels on 88 hotels.

The new installations will have a total capacity of more than 1.6MW, taking its solar portfolio on Premier Inn sites to 3MW – that’s equivalent to powering around 2.9 million washing machine cycles.

The project will be developed and managed by Anesco.

James Pitcher, Whitbread Director of Sustainability said: “Solar technology is a key part of our sustainability programme and helps ensure we always act as a force for good. As a long term investment, solar is a fantastic proposition for us.”