5-star’s power woes gone with the wind

ITC Maratha to install windmills to produce its own electricity

5-star's power woes gone with the wind

ITC Maratha to install windmills to produce its own electricity

Fed up of rocketing electricity bills, a five-star hotel in Mumbai has opted for an unusual solution. Instead of cutting corners with energy-saving bulbs, the ITC Maratha in Andheri has decided to generate its own electricity using windmills.

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The hotel will install four windmills at Satara with the capacity to generate enough electricity to completely meet their needs. "This is an expensive investment, but it will work out for the best. Not only will it curtail our dependence on state electricity, we will also not have to pay electricity bills that rise every year," said a hotel spokesperson.

Within 2 months

The project is worth Rs 10 crore, but with the windmills in place, per unit of electricity will cost the hotel only Rs 3.50, as compared to the Rs 13 per unit that it costs them now. The hotel will begin using electricity generated from these windmills within two months.

However, not all hotels are taking this gamble. The Orchid, Vile Parle, has shelved the idea of windmills due to the high installation cost and is using energy-saving equipment instead.

Likewise, Hotel Marine Plaza, Marine Drive, has imported a chiller that saves 40 per cent of the electricity consumed by ACs. "We are banking on technology to combat the constant hikes in power tariff," said Sanjeev Shekhar, the general manager.

And now with the threat of another power tariff hike (see box) looming over their heads, and the industry in no position to pass rising costs to the consumers, more and more hotels are jumping into the energy-saving bandwagon.

Power struggle
The Hotel and Restaurant Association, Western India (HRAWI) has raised an objection over another proposed electricity tariff hike.

"Power and fuel are the major operational costs for hotels and restaurants. Another drastic increase in power tariffs will force many hotels and restaurants to do away with facilities or close down," said S P Jain, president, HRAWI.

Rishi Puri, group GM of The Residence Hotel and Ramada, Powai, corroborated Jain's prediction, saying, "If the hike is implemented, we will have to pass the cost on to the customers."

It adds up to...
>>Per day power consumption of a five-star hotel:u00a0 35,000-75,000 units for a 100-room hotel
>>Per month electricity bill of a five-star hotel: Rs 15 cr (approximately)