TUI Group, a global leader in travel and tourism, has taken another significant step forward in its commitment to sustainability by launching three new solar power plants in Turkey. These installations are part of TUI’s ambitious global solar strategy, which aims to achieve carbon neutrality for its hotels and resorts in the medium term. The recent connection of these photovoltaic systems to the grid marks a major milestone in the company’s journey towards a greener future.
The three solar power plants, now fully operational, have a combined capacity of approximately 15 megawatts (MW). This renewable energy will supply eight TUI hotels in Turkey with clean electricity year-round, reducing their reliance on non-renewable energy sources and significantly lowering their carbon footprint.
Sebastian Ebel, CEO of TUI Group, highlighted the importance of this initiative in the company’s broader sustainability strategy. “This initiative underlines our aim to grow sustainably and profitably while significantly reducing our emissions. The solar parks in Turkey provide our local hotels with a cost-effective and environmentally friendly energy supply. For TUI, the new PV-plants are an important step towards achieving the sustainability goals to which we are clearly committed.”
Among the newly connected systems is a 6.8 MWp plant operated by TUI Hotels & Resorts Turkey. This plant now supplies clean energy to four hotels: TUI Blue Palm Garden, TUI Blue Sarigerme Park, TUI Blue Seno, and TUI Magic Life Belek. Another planned installation in Şanlıurfa is set to power TUI Magic Life Masmavi and TUI Blue Grand Azur, further expanding TUI’s sustainable energy footprint in the region.
In addition to TUI’s efforts, the group has partnered with Akra Hotels to build two additional solar plants in the regions of Elmalı and Alanya. These facilities are already delivering green energy to four hotels, with a third plant expected to come online later this year. Haydar Barut, Chairman of the Board at Akra Hotels, emphasised the company’s dedication to sustainability: “Our goal is to develop a corporate culture that recognizes the impact of sustainability on our existence and future. With a total energy generation capacity of 34 million kWh from four solar power plants, we aim to meet the electricity needs of all our Akra Hotels facilities with self-generated renewable energy by the end of 2024.”
Ebel is confident that TUI Group’s expansion into solar energy is a crucial move in the right direction. In 2023 alone, the company installed around 20 photovoltaic systems at TUI Hotels & Resorts worldwide, bolstering its capacity for sustainable energy generation. Depending on the region, TUI hotels also utilise geothermal energy and biomass, contributing to a diverse and resilient energy mix.
TUI’s commitment to green energy extends beyond its hotels. The company is also focusing on sustainability in its travel agencies and office buildings. In Germany, all TUI buildings will be supplied with 100 percent renewable energy for the first time this year. The TUI Campus in Hanover, equipped with a 7,000 square metre photovoltaic system, recently provided solar energy for the entire office operations, including 42 charging points for electric vehicles. Other TUI offices and travel agencies in Germany receive their electricity from regional wind turbines in the Weserbergland region, while facilities in the UK, the Nordic countries, and the Netherlands are also powered by green electricity.
With these latest developments, TUI Group continues to demonstrate its leadership in the travel industry’s transition to renewable energy, paving the way for a more sustainable future.
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