This case study describes the solar + BESS deployment at a 4-star hotel in Visakhapatnam (Vizag), Andhra Pradesh — one of ARIA Green Energy's landmark hospitality sector installations. The project demonstrates how well-designed energy infrastructure can transform a hotel's operating economics while improving guest experience.
Client Profile
A 4-star hotel with 120 rooms, two restaurants, a swimming pool, a banquet hall, and a 24-hour gym. Monthly electricity bill: approximately ₹12 lakh at APEPDCL's LT-IV commercial tariff. DG sets (2 × 250 kVA) operated an average of 8 hours per day during load shedding periods, consuming approximately 4,000 litres of diesel per month at a cost of ₹3.6 lakh.
The Energy Challenge
Vizag's grid reliability for large commercial consumers in 2024 was variable — the hotel experienced 15–20 outage hours per month on average. DG fuel costs had increased 35% over 18 months and the hotel management was keen to lock in predictable, lower energy costs as part of a broader sustainability initiative aligned with their international chain's ESG targets.
System Design
ARIA conducted a detailed energy audit and PVsyst simulation for the hotel. The rooftop — a combination of RCC terrace and carport structure — had 4,000 sq ft of usable solar area. System specifications: 300 kW solar PV (Tier-1 mono PERC panels, 545 W each); 3 × 100 kW hybrid string inverters; 150 kWh LFP battery storage (2C discharge capability); bidirectional smart meters; Nextra AI monitoring with real-time OTA alerts. Total EPC cost: ₹2.25 crore.
Results — Year 1
| Metric | Before | After (Year 1) |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Grid Bill | ₹1.44 Cr | ₹1.04 Cr |
| Annual DG Fuel Cost | ₹43.2 L | ₹4.8 L (emergency only) |
| DG Operating Hours | ~2,920 hrs/yr | <400 hrs/yr |
| Total Annual Saving | — | ₹78.4 L |
| Simple Payback | — | 2.9 years |
Guest Experience Impact
Beyond the financial metrics, the hotel management reported measurable improvements in guest experience. The BESS eliminated the disruptive DG noise (DGs are now a true emergency backup only), the hotel's lobby and corridors maintained consistent HVAC performance during what were previously outage windows, and the sustainability credentials supported the hotel's marketing to corporate MICE business and international guests who rate environmental responsibility in hotel selection criteria.
O&M and Monitoring
ARIA Green Energy's Nextra AI monitoring platform provides the hotel's facilities manager with a daily energy dashboard: generation vs. consumption, BESS state of charge, grid import, and automated alerts for any string-level underperformance. The system sends monthly energy certificates — useful for ESG reporting — and the 5-year AMC includes biannual panel cleaning, annual inverter servicing, and remote diagnostics support.
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