UK: The Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London has partnered with Naked Energy to install solar heat technology on its rooftop.
The iconic property is the first British hotel to use Naked Energy’s Virtu technology and the installation will comprise 120 of the company’s solar ‘collectors’ (pictured) across the roof.
According to Naked Energy, a British design and engineering business, the technology can generate solar heat up to 120°C and the modular design makes it the world’s highest energy density solar heat technology, estimated to reduce more than three times the GHG per sqm, compared with traditional solar PV (photovoltaic) panels.
It is estimated that nearly 70 per cent of a hotel’s energy consumption is spent on heating and hot water and Naked Energy’s Virtu technology will provide hot water for the hotel’s 181 guest rooms and suites, the restaurants and the spa.
The installation will reduce the hotel’s carbon emissions by 7.3 tonnes each year – equivalent to the annual carbon sequestration of over 292 mature trees. It will also generate 39,747 kWh of energy per year, displacing natural gas consumption which will help with the hotel’s scope 1 emissions.
Christophe Williams, co-founder and CEO of Naked Energy said: “It’s an honour to install our collectors on such an iconic London hotel as Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London.
“The building has a long and storied history, and we’re delighted to now help them to meet their sustainability goals and control energy costs. This project is an exciting step forward for the solar heat industry in the UK – we hope other hoteliers will follow in Mandarin Oriental’s footsteps to move away from fossil fuels and change their energy consumption for good.”
Torsten van Dullemen, general manager of 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.”
You can read more stories on solar technology here and read about Belfast’s largest hotel group investing in solar energy below.
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