UK: The Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London has finished installing solar heat technology from Naked Energy on its rooftop.
The installation, which we reported on last year, makes the luxury hotel the first in the UK to use Naked Energy’s solar thermal collectors.
The renewable technology comprises 120 of Naked Energy’s VirtuHOT collectors, which provide sanitary hot water for the hotel’s 181 rooms and suites, restaurants, and spa.
Heating and hot water is thought to account for nearly 70 per cent of a hotel’s energy use and this system is expected to generate 39,747 kWh of renewable heat annually, resulting in a 7.3-tonne reduction in carbon emissions each year.
VirtuHOT is different from traditional solar PV systems in that “it operates at the grid edge, generating renewable heat directly where it’s needed without adding strain to the grid.”
Its modular, high-density design delivers more than three times the greenhouse gas reduction per square metre compared to conventional solar PV panels.
Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London is one of the city’s most recognisable hotels with a 140-year history, and underwent an extensive multi-million-pound restoration before reopening in 2019.
Torsten van Dullemen, general manager, area vice president & group director of sustainability, Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London, said: “I’m delighted to bring such an innovative solar heating system to our hotel – we’re designing a cutting-edge hotel experience that is built for the future we want to live in.
“We hope this installation serves as a blueprint to inspire other hoteliers in London to prioritise their renewable goals and join us in creating a cleaner, more sustainable tomorrow.”
Christophe Williams, co-founder and CEO of Naked Energy, said: “The need to decarbonise heat is often overlooked in conversations about the UK’s net-zero transition. This project is an exciting milestone for solar heat in the UK, and we hope other hoteliers will follow Mandarin Oriental’s lead in embracing renewable solutions and reducing their reliance on fossil fuels.”
Image: Naked Energy