The Meliá ME Marbella Banús is one of the flagship hotels on Spain’s Costa del Sol and was looking to install a rooftop PV system capable of supporting high daytime energy demand within a limited footprint, a solution needing to balance performance, spatial constraints and strict design requirements.
Sara Gonzalez, head of B2B sales at SotySolar, a leading player in Spain’s distributed renewables market, explains: “In the luxury sector, excellence is non-negotiable. For a flagship property like Meliá ME Marbella Banús, we selected AIKO modules because its ABC technology delivers cutting-edge performance without compromising aesthetics. By removing front-facing metallic contacts, it creates a pure surface that integrates seamlessly into the architecture while maximizing power generation within a limited space.”
Performance under real operating conditions was equally decisive. Located in Andalusia, one of Europe’s hottest regions, the system needed to maintain stable output during extreme heat and peak irradiation. With a lower temperature coefficient, AIKO modules reduce thermal losses, ensuring stronger generation precisely when the hotel’s cooling and service loads are at their highest.
At the same time, the rooftop layout introduced partial shading from surrounding structures. Here, the intrinsic design of ABC technology helped minimize mismatch losses, maintaining consistent system output. Combined with its strong high temperature restriction capability, the system also enhances operational safety, an essential consideration for hospitality assets where reliability directly impacts both cost and reputation.
When compared directly with other technologies, the advantages of ABC became clear:
- Higher installation capacity in the same area: 116,16 kWp vs. 111,36 kWp
- Reduced space requirement for the same capacity: saving 23,25 m²
- Higher lifetime energy yield: +478.324 kWh over 30 years
- Stronger high-temperature performance: lower temperature coefficient (-0,26% vs. -0,29%)
With a total installed capacity of 116,16 kWp using 192 modules, the system delivers strong economic returns while supporting the hotel’s long-term sustainability goals:
- 207.342 kWh first-year generation
- 5.914.658 kWh over 30 years
- 721.588 € estimated savings
- 3,53-year payback period
- LCOE of 0,021 €/kWh compared to approximately 0,14 €/kWh grid price
Gonzalez continues: “The system is designed to handle the region’s intense heat while maintaining very high efficiency. It not only reduces operating costs but also strengthens the hotel’s commitment to a more sustainable future.”
The Meliá ME Marbella Banús project reflects a broader shift in the commercial solar market, where performance, reliability, and design are increasingly considered together rather than in isolation.
Working closely with partners such as SotySolar, AIKO continues to deliver high-efficiency solar solutions tailored to demanding real-world applications, supporting the transition toward a zero-carbon society.