Overview

The Hive is a creative shared workspace in West London operated by Garden Studios, a leading production studio for high-end TV and indie film. Fully equipped with professional recording tools, The Hive is a vibrant hub allowing visitors to create, collaborate and network.

As a B Corp-accredited organisation, Garden Studios wanted to reduce carbon emissions and energy costs at The Hive. Solar PV offered a practical, impactful solution that aligned with their SME Climate Hub pledge to reduce carbon emissions by 50% by 2030.

Julie Hoegh, Head of Sustainability at Garden Studios said:

“Installing solar panels was a natural step to get closer to our carbon reduction commitment and meet the requirements of the sustainability certifications we take part in. Plug me in were recommended by BCR Associates, our energy consultant, and we were grateful to receive a grant from Brent Council to make the investment possible.”

Installation Details

Plug me in delivered a 20 kWp solar PV system made up of 48 solar panels. It generates 17,303 kWh a year and provides 20-year savings of £130,997.

The system also saves 3.3 tonnes of CO2 annually – across the lifetime of the system, this is roughly equivalent to the total energy use of eight homes.

Since The Hive is a busy space with heavy footfall, our installers took special care to not disrupt regular activity across the site, operating safely and efficiently whilst staying as quiet as possible.

Financial and Environmental Impact

The solar system we installed makes The Hive a greener space without compromising on the energy required to run its operations. It reduces The Hive's – and Garden Studios’ – carbon footprint and brings them closer to meeting their SME Climate Hub pledge.

Plug me in were pleased to support The Hive with the installation of a tailored solar PV system, helping them reduce emissions, cut costs and continue empowering the next generation of creatives.

Reflecting on the project, Julie told us:

“We’re really happy with our solar PV system and have already seen a 60% drop in electricity consumption. The installation was excellent – smooth and efficient with great communication throughout. We would happily recommend Plug me in to other companies who are considering going solar.”

Looking Ahead

With their state-of-the-art solar PV system in place, The Hive is now generating clean, on-site power while reducing emissions and cutting energy costs. This success provides a blueprint for other workspaces and demonstrates how small- to medium-sized creative hubs can combine sustainability with operational efficiency.

Future upgrades could include battery storage or smart energy management to further maximise renewable benefits and increase energy independence.