A solar story: Four Seasons absorbs heat in the Maldives

Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru has connected its first RoofSolar inverter, turning on one of the Maldives’ largest resort-based solar installations.

The ambitious project comprises 3,105 panels and spans 5,380 square metres (58,000 square feet) – the roof surface of the staff village – and has been installed by Swimsol, specialists in tropical coastal-region solar systems.

It is estimated that the new solar set-up will produce (and save) between 900,000 and 1.1 million kWh of energy every year and save between 250,000 and 300,000 litres (55,000-66,000 gallons) of diesel, which corresponds to 650-800 tons of CO2.

“We take our role… very seriously”

Armando Kraenzlin, regional vice president of Four Seasons Resorts in Maldives, explained: “Our Baa Atoll home became the Maldives’ first UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve in 2011 on account of its unique harmony between man and nature, and we take our role in preserving that status very seriously.

“This project is an important rung on our conservation ladder and takes us a step closer to reaching our eventual goal of becoming carbon-neutral.”

Data and figures

Putting this data into tangible real-world examples, the annual savings equate to powering all 103 of Landaa’s luxurious guest rooms, villas, and suites for 32 days or charging one of the Resort’s eco-friendly electric golf cars more than 82,000 times.

In daily terms, it’s the daily equivalent of powering 15 Villas for 24 hours; applying reverse osmosis technology to 540 cubic metres (19,000 cubic feet) of water at the Resort’s onsite desalination plant; or washing and drying 3,350 kilograms (7,400 pounds)of laundry.

Finally, looking at the diesel-saving ability, the annual figure equates to driving around the world 94 times – with the corresponding annual CO2 reduction eliminating the emissions of 544 flights between London to Male.