Soneva target 50 percent of energy to derive from solar power

Soneva, the award-winning sustainable resort brand, in its commitment to increase renewable energy infrastructure, has announced the energy capacity in both Soneva Fushi in Baa atoll, and Soneva Jani in Noonu atoll will be increased to 50 percent, generated from photovoltaic (PV) sources.

The resort operator is expanding its renewable energy infrastructure from the USD 10 million funding provided by the German-headquartered Aareal Bank in December 2022.

With this, a 2.55 MWp (megawatt peak) panels with a 2.7 MWh (megawatt hours) of battery capacity will be put to commission in Soneva Fushi, and a 2.75 Mwp of power with 2.0 MWh battery capacity commissioned at Soneva Jani.

"Our investment in solar energy demonstrates our commitment to sustainability at the same time as contributing positively to our bottom line," said Bruce Bromley, the Chief Financial Officer and Deputy CEO at Soneva.

"Embracing solar power on such a significant scale has substantially reduced our carbon footprint and demonstrates 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, propelling us closer to our goal of achieving fossil fuel-free operations."

Besides this, Soneva Secret, a brand new property in Haa Dhaalu atoll, will be implementing floating solar panels, which are projected to cover nearly 90 percent of the resort's energy load. Additionally, the resort features an integrated ice storage system for air conditioning.

Other efforts in sustainable tourism practices led by Soneva include an expansion of sustainable strategies such as rainwater harvesting and load shifting, aimed ato utilizing renewables, while assessing alternative storage technologies to further enhance energy usage.

"The financial sector plays a decisive role in the transition of the property sector toward a carbon-free future. At Aareal Bank, we are embracing this responsibility. It gives us great satisfaction to witness our joint efforts bearing fruits and contributing to sustainable development on multiple fronts," said Thomas Adaemmer, Managing Director and Head of Asia-Pacific at Aareal Bank.

Soneva's brand is recognized for its sustainable tourism approaches with ensured privacy to the guests. As such, its Soneva Jani features the lowest room to land ratio in the world.