This year, Soneva Fushi in Baa atoll and Soneva Jani in Noonu atoll aims to generate close to 50 percent of their energy needs from photovoltaic (PV) sources.
Soneva, the renowned sustainable luxury resort operator in the Maldives, has announced plans to enhance its commitment towards renewable energy, with a focus on solar power across its resorts in the country.
This year, Soneva Fushi in Baa atoll and Soneva Jani in Noonu atoll aims to generate close to 50 percent of their energy needs from photovoltaic (PV) sources.
This is a significant increase compared to the previous capacity, where Soneva Fushi's PV system supplied approximately 12 percent of the resort's energy load.
The Solar power expansion at Soneva is fueled by a USD 10 million funding from Germany's Aareal bank, secured in December 2022. The new installations at Soneva Fushi now boast 2.55 MWp (megawatt peak) of power and 2.75 MWp of battery capacity. Soneva Jani has achieved 2.75 MWp of power and 2 MWp of battery capacity.
"Our investment in solar energy demonstrates our commitment to sustainability while also contributing positively to our bottom line," said Chief Financial Officer and Deputy CEO at Soneva, Bruce Bromley.
"Embracing solar power on such a significant scale has substantially reduced our carbon footprint and shows what is possible in the hospitality industry. The invaluable support from Aareal Bank has paved the way for integrating our energy systems with other renewable technologies, bringing us closer to achieving fossil fuel-free operations."
In addition to expanding land-based solar installations, Soneva is exploring the potential of floating solar panels in the ocean surrounding its resorts.
The upcoming Soneva Secret 2024 resort Haa Dhaalu atoll is set to implement floating solar panels, with a potential to cover nearly 90 percent of the resort’s energy needs. This new resort also features an integrated ice storage system for air conditioning.
Soneva is further enhancing its sustainability strategies, including rainwater harvesting and load shifting, to maximize renewable energy utilization. The company is also assessing alternative storage technologies, such as flow batteries with longer lifespans and significant energy storage capacity, and thermal storage for maintaining and regulating renewable heat.
"The financial sector plays a decisive role in the transition of the property sector toward a carbon-free future. At Aareal Bank, we embrace this responsibility. It gives us great satisfaction to see our joint efforts bearing fruit and contributing to sustainable development on multiple fronts," said Managing Director and Head of Asia-Pacific at Aareal Bank, Thomas Adaemmer.
Since its inception in 1995, Soneva has been a pioneer in sustainability within the luxury hospitality industry. The company is leading efforts to transition the hospitality sector toward a zero-carbon future, aiming for fully carbon-free operations at its Maldives resorts.
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