Located just a short walk from Harrods in Knightsbridge, with views over Hyde Park, an iconic London hotel has partnered with a leading solar-thermal manufacturer to invest in cutting-edge heat decarbonisation.
Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London has become the first British hotel to employ the innovative VirtuHOT technology from Naked Energy, with 120 solar-thermal collectors now in use at rooftop level.
The installation will advance the hotel further along its journey toward net zero by helping to decarbonise its heating, providing sanitary hot water for its 181 luxury guest rooms, award-winning restaurants and spa.
Installed by renewable technology specialists SHEco, the project is due to generate 39,747kWh of energy per year, displacing natural gas consumption and shrinking the building’s carbon footprint by 7.3 tonnes.
This reduction in Scope 1 emissions is equivalent to the carbon sequestration benefits of 292 mature trees.
High energy-use in hospitality
Hotels are well known for requiring a high amount of energy to operate. In fact, it is estimated that nearly 70% of their total energy consumption is spent on heating and hot water.
In response, the Naked Energy installation at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London marks an innovative approach to decarbonising sector-wide high heat demand, setting a clean-energy benchmark for hospitality.
VirtuHOT is different from traditional solar PV systems in that it operates at the grid edge, generating renewable heat directly where needed, without adding strain to the electricity grid.
The unique modular design of the pioneering Virtu collector makes it the world’s highest energy-density solar-heat technology, estimated to reduce more than three times the greenhouse gases per square metre, when compared to traditional solar PV (photovoltaic) panels.
The collectors can generate solar heat up to 120°C and carry gold standard TÜV Rheinland certification.
Low-profile design solution
The project is not only important from a technology point of view, but is significant in design terms, too.
One of the city’s most recognisable hotels with a 140-year history, Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London reopened in 2019 following an extensive multi-million-pound restoration.
Crucially, the low-profile design of Naked Energy’s collectors offers minimal disruption to the building’s architecture, circumventing an ongoing challenge for other properties surrounding Hyde Park.
The low-profile design of Naked Energy’s collectors ensures they seamlessly integrate with the hotel’s architecture, overcoming planning challenges faced by buildings surrounding Hyde Park.
Prestigious precedent for sector
Given the prestigious nature of the property, it is hoped this scheme can set an influential precedent for decarbonisation of the hospitality sector, says Christophe Williams, Co-Founder and CEO of Naked Energy:
“The building has a long and storied history, and we’re proud to help Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London meet its sustainability goals, while managing energy costs alongside SHEco. The need to decarbonise heat is often overlooked in conversations about the net-zero transition. So, this project is an exciting milestone for solar heat in the UK.”
The clock is ticking, though, on corporate climate goals, adds Adam Clark, Commercial Director of SHEco:
“The energy transition is gaining momentum, and businesses must reassess their decarbonisation strategies — particularly when it comes to heat — to stay on track for net zero.”
It is therefore important that the tech represents a perfect fit for the future environmental aspirations of the hotel, concludes Torsten van Dullemen, General Manager of Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London:
“Naked Energy’s remarkable solar technology aligns seamlessly with our hotel’s core commitment to the wellbeing of our planet, of our community, and our staff and guests. We’re designing a cutting-edge hotel experience that is built for the future we want to live in. We hope this installation serves as a blueprint to inspire other hoteliers in London to prioritise their renewable goals and join us in creating a cleaner, more sustainable tomorrow.”
Re-imagined, now re-energised
Sitting between glorious Royal Parkland and the buzz of central Knightsbridge, Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London has not only been re-imagined and re-invented, but now re-energised, too.
As part of the most-extensive multi-million-pound restoration in the hotel’s history, internationally renowned designer Joyce Wang, oversaw the new design of all the rooms, suites and public areas, inspired by the natural beauty of neighbouring Hyde Park and the glamour of the 20th century Golden Age of travel.
The redesign of The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, London along with reworking of the hotel’s destination restaurants and Mandarin Bar, were directed by esteemed New York designer Adam D Tihany.
Food-and-drink choices include the two-Michelin-starred Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, summer terrace at Hyde Park Garden, Japanese Izakaya at The Aubrey, and Traditional Afternoon Tea in The Rosebery.
Naked Energy is a British design and engineering business, in the vanguard of global innovation in solar thermal and solar photovoltaic thermal (PVT). Solar PVT technology offers the capability to deliver up to four times the carbon savings per square metre, in comparison to conventional solar PV.
Part of the wider SHEco Group, SHEco Renewable Systems Ltd specialises in turnkey decarbonisation solutions for industrial and commercial sectors. The company can design and install systems using a range of renewable energy technologies, including heat pumps, as well as solar PV and solar thermal.
* The story above is an updated version of a news item originally published on SustMeme in January 2024 — much of the text remains unchanged, but the video and most of the images are new, showing project installation now fully completed.
Further Reading:
- More about Naked Energy; and its pioneering Virtu product range;
- Group, SHEco Renewable Systems Ltd specialises in turnke
- More about the iconic Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park hotel in London;
- Also on SustMeme, Adding colour to design aesthetics of in-roof solar;
- Also on SustMeme, Machine learning helps map solar and green roofs;
- Also on SustMeme, Landmark wooden building on Helsinki waterfront;
- Also on SustMeme, Ecolabel first for solar industry manufacturing;
- Also on SustMeme, Sustainable luxury for first skyscraper in Greece;
- Also on SustMeme, Travel Sustainable badge for property stays worldwide.
Check out the full archive of stories on the SustMeme Built Environment Channel, now available to Sponsor.
