Ariston renewable solutions taps into resurging hospitality sector
The favourable outlook of the hospitality industry has resulted in an uptake of Ariston Middle East’s renewable solutions. As hotels, restaurants and other entities in the hospitality industry experience an upswing, water heating solutions harnessing natural resources of sun, heat and air are given priority. Reducing energy cost is a top consideration, solar panels and heat pump technology is favoured thereby contributing to the company’s sustainability program.
With Dubai Expo 2020 around the corner, market revenue of heat pumps which was $89.5 million in 2019, is predicted to surge to $121.4 million by 2030, at a CAGR of 2.9 percent between 2020 and 2030. The hospitality industry in Saudi Arabia has been holding its ground despite the pandemic. Vision 2030 and the numerous projects it has spawned like NEOM, Qiddiya and The Red Sea Development account for an unprecedented upswing. More than 20 new hotels, a few with international brand names and a few through strategic partnerships with the leading domestic hospitality groups have been opened resulting in addition of more than 8,200 rooms to the existing supply covering all sections of the market. This increase definitely comes as a boon to the revenue growth in the heat pump market.
Alberto Torner, Head of Ariston Thermo Group in the Middle East, Turkey and Caucasus, pointed out, “The hospitality industry has a high demand for hot water. Guest rooms, swimming pools and restaurants require large quantities depending on capacity so cost of water heating is a major consideration. As the UAE benefits from the imminent Expo 2020 traffic and a return to normal, our design engineers see an inclination to environment friendly solutions that also benefit customers by minimizing energy consumption. The building of NEOM in Saudi Arabia is yet another opportunity for Ariston Thermo’s sustainable solutions. Heat Pump technology is gaining ground due to its simplicity and effectiveness. The abundance of sunshine in the region make solar energy a natural choice.”
Several hotel projects around the UAE leverage a combination of solar power and heat pump technology. One of the larger Ariston Thermo solar and heat pump installations supplies 58,000 litres a day at the Hilton Hotel in Ras Al Khaimah. The solar fraction performance of the system is variable from system to system but always above 80 percent to ensure maximum comfort and energy savings. Additional savings is provided by the Heat Pumps. Considering both the solar and air source, the saving is over 550,00kWh, the equivalent to a reduction of 330,000 kg of CO2 emissions.
In Saudi Arabia too, hotel projects have been completed across the country. They include Acqua Rafal in Jeddah, hotels in Madinah and Vocco Towers Holiday Inn project in Dammam in addition to others in NEOM.
