Solar-powered event energy, measured and reported

We deliver solar energy to attendees via phone-charging hubs.

Hardcore Harry is a UK-based, purpose-built solar phone-charging hire service for festivals and live events, portable, high-throughput, and backed by measured usage data.

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How we can help you

Replace diesel generator runtime with measured solar energy, delivered through public phone-charging hubs.

Diesel generators are oversized and inefficient for small power needs. Events need measurable ESG outcomes, Attendees need power without queues or fuel noise

Our systems address all three, using live-measured solar energy.

We provide solar-powered phone charging systems for events, festivals and temporary sites across the UK. Our service includes delivery, setup, operation options and collection, with systems designed to run fully off-grid using solar energy and battery storage. We also provide post-event usage and ESG reporting to support sustainability and impact reporting.

Where our chargers make sense

Charging in areas such as campsites, remote zones, far fields, anywhere without grid power. We provide useful sponsor activation that’s useful. It is a system that prioritises throughput and reliability in the real world.

Smartphone on a solar charging station connected to usb  power outlet

Why choose us

  • 100% solar powered with battery storage

  • No fuel, no noise, no fumes

  • Fast USB-A (QC) and USB-C (PD) charging

  • Scalable from small events to multi-day festivals

  • Branding and sponsorship options available

  • provide post-event usage and ESG reporting

  • Built for UK weather

A typical unit is built around a 100 W solar panel, a 20 Ah battery buffer, and an 8 A solar charge controller, feeding three phone-charging ports for simultaneous use. In typical UK summer conditions, a unit will generate around 200–600 Wh of solar energy per day, enough to support roughly 50–150 short phone top-ups, depending on weather, placement, and how people use the chargers. We also build bigger capacity units, ideal for very busy locations.

Who we can help

  • Independent festivals (1k–15k capacity

  • Councils & public events

  • Sustainability-led brands sponsoring stages

  • Venues with weak grid access

  • ESG-sensitive corporates (internal events)

We are the UK's solar-first event phone charging, with measured usage and post-event impact reporting. phone-specific by design, and engineered for high-throughput events. Our units are portable, fast, and optimised for short top-ups, meaning more people get charged with less infrastructure and no generators.

Brand sponsorship

Turn phone charging into a sponsor-funded service that people genuinely use. We create a branded charging zone powered by the sun, with clear on-site visibility and a post-event impact summary that sponsors can put straight into ESG/CSR comms.

What sponsors get

  • Co-branded charging hubs and signage in a high-footfall area

  • A simple “proof-of-action” sustainability story (solar-first, off-grid)

  • Post-event highlights: energy delivered, charging sessions/top-ups, and impact notes (with stated assumptions)

What organisers get

  • Reduced cost (or fully covered) charging provision

  • Better attendee experience and fewer “dead phone” issues

  • A sponsor activation that feels useful, not intrusive

Optional add-on: content package
Branded photography and short-form video (30–60s) of the charging zone in use, with corporate usage rights for ESG/annual reports and internal comms.

  • Hi, I’m Shawn. I founded Hardcore Harry in the summer of 2025.

    The idea came from a lack of phone charging outlets while at several festivals. Power packs didn’t cut it for a multi-day festival.

    My current business involves building high-end solar-powered time-lapse cameras for film production.

    I believed the solar power system from the cameras would work for a solar phone charging system. The power system was designed to be robust enough for a muddy building site and to take on the worst of the UK weather.

    I was right, and the first deployment of the chargers took place at the end of that summer.

    The results were surprising to me. Over an 8-hour period, the equivalent of 70 iPhones were charged from two units.

    The amazing thing was that the units were hidden away and not in high-visibility areas, yet people actively sought them out and used them.

    The units recorded all the data, so we knew which areas were used the most and were able to piece together a picture of dwell times and user experience.

    With the rapid advancement of solar and battery technology, phone charging should definitely be sustainable.

    That’s me in the photo with a solar-powered cargo bike built for the Sun Trip race across Morocco.

    Hopefully, you’re after a sustainable solution, and my team and I can help

  • We design and deploy solar phone charging systems that are practical, reliable and suited to real event conditions. Each installation is sized to the site and audience, with clear assumptions on capacity, operation and support.

  • We work with festival organisers, event producers, local authorities and corporate teams that need reliable, off-grid phone charging. Our systems are deployed at temporary, outdoor and remote sites where grid power is limited or unavailable.

Solar powered ebike
A man using a mobile phone while charging from a solar power off grid charger
A woman at an outdoor event. She is surrounded by a crowd, some people holding up phones powered by solar phone charging stations
Smartphone charging on an off grid solar charger unit.

Impact & Reporting

Measured impact, not estimates

Each system records real-world performance during the event, including:

  • Total solar energy generated (Wh / kWh)

  • Total energy delivered to devices

  • Number of user charging sessions

  • Equivalent phone top-ups delivered

  • Estimated diesel generator runtime avoided

  • Indicative CO₂ emissions avoided

All figures are derived from logged system data and post-event analysis.

People using smartphones powered by the sun at a festival or outdoor performance
  • Capacity depends on sunlight, event hours, and how long users stay connected. At the quotation stage we provide realistic throughput estimates based on your event size, layout and expected dwell time.

  • Yes. Each unit includes battery storage to buffer intermittent sunlight. Extended periods of poor weather reduce total capacity, which is accounted for when the system is sized.

  • No. The systems are fully off-grid and operate using solar panels and stored energy.

  • Units provide fast charging via USB-A (QC) and USB-C (PD). Actual charge speed depends on the user’s device and cable.

  • Yes. Systems are designed for public environments, with protected outputs, fusing and weather-resistant enclosures. Risk assessments and method statements are available

  • Each unit has a small footprint and can be positioned in high-footfall areas. Exact space and placement requirements are confirmed during planning.

  • Stored battery energy supports charging after sunset. For multi-day events, systems can be sized with additional storage or swap-out options.

  • Yes. Units can be co-branded, wrapped or sponsored. This is often used by partners to cover hiring costs and promote sustainability messaging.

  • Typical setup takes 15–30 minutes per unit, depending on site access and layout.

  • We provide hire services across the UK. Delivery, setup and collection are included in the quotation.

  • On-site management is available as an optional service. This can include setup, monitoring, user support and troubleshooting, depending on the size and duration of the event.

Frequently Asked Questions