Renewable energy specialist Noon Srl, which installed the resort's existing 150 kW rooftop solar system, was chosen again to design the new carport and battery installation. The 237-room complex near Palermo includes a conference centre, three swimming pools, a wellness centre and a restaurant. The new addition, an 850 kW solar carport built from 2,500 JA bifacial double-glass modules, brings the hotel's total renewable capacity to 1 MW while turning its car park into shaded, hail-protected parking for guests. Salvo Zappalà, chief executive of Dimsi Hospitality Group, which owns the resort, said rising electricity costs had left the hotel increasingly exposed. "We wanted to take back control by producing more of our own energy and making better use of it throughout the day," he said. "This investment is about building a more resilient business that is better prepared for future energy challenges."
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Eight JAPlanet batteries provide more than 2 MWh of storage, letting the hotel run for up to five hours in the evening without drawing from the grid. The system's modular design allows capacity to expand to 5.2 MWh as demand rises, a feature the hotel is counting on as it explores adding EV charging powered by the same renewable system. Combined, the carport and battery system are forecast to generate 1.5 GWh a year, covering around 90 percent of the hotel's electricity needs and cutting its CO2 emissions by roughly 320 tonnes annually, with a payback period of under four years.
Built for a coastal site
The bifacial modules' double-glass construction was chosen partly for durability against moisture, salt mist and corrosion, a standing concern for a resort on the Mediterranean coast. "Projects like this demonstrate why more commercial customers are investing in integrated solar and storage solutions," said Giuseppe Puleo, chief executive of Noon Srl. "Businesses are looking to maximise the value of their solar investments by capturing surplus generation and using it when it provides the greatest financial and operational benefit."
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Hotels across southern Europe are increasingly turning to solar and storage to offset high cooling demand during peak season and reduce exposure to rising electricity prices, particularly on islands and coastal sites where grid capacity can be strained by seasonal tourism. Battery storage in particular is becoming a bigger part of that picture, helping hospitality operators smooth out the mismatch between when solar power is generated and when it's actually needed. (TF)
