Solar Hot Water for Hotels

Cut energy costs without touching your roof.

The SunSteamSkid is a self‑contained solar hot water plant inside a standard shipping container. Place it on any flat ground – parking area, side yard, even gravel. Connect water and power. That’s it.

Why Hotels Choose SunSteamSkid

Zero roof work – No structural surveys, no crane, no leaks.
50‑80% lower energy bills – Payback in 3–5 years.
Plug‑and‑play – Installed in one day.
Backup ready – Electric heater or connection to existing boiler.
15‑20 year lifetime – Minimal maintenance (just wash the glass tubes).

Typical Hotel Hot Water Demand

Based on real data from 1st Sunflower and European hotel audits:

Per person per day:
55 litres of 60°C hot water (that’s one 10‑minute shower mixed with cold water).

Per room (two guests): 110 litres of 60°C hot water per day.

Peak times: 7:00‑9:00 and 19:00‑22:00 – about 70% of daily demand happens in these four hours.

Example – 20‑room hotel (40 guests):
40 × 55 L = 2,200 litres of 60°C hot water per day.

Sizing Guide

Small hotel (10‑15 rooms)

Daily hot water: 1,000‑1,500 litres
Collectors: 8‑10 (20‑tube)
Buffer tank: 1000 litres
Container: 20ft

Medium hotel (20‑30 rooms)

Daily hot water: 2,000‑3,000 litres
Collectors: 15‑20
Buffer tank: 1500‑2000 litres
Container: 20ft

Large hotel (40‑60 rooms)

Daily hot water: 4,000‑6,000 litres
Collectors: 30‑40
Buffer tank: 3000‑4000 litres
Container: 40ft or two 20ft containers

Very large hotel (80‑120 rooms)

Daily hot water: 8,000‑12,000 litres
Collectors: 60‑90
Buffer tank: multiple 3000 litre tanks
Container: several 20ft or 40ft containers

*Above sizing based on Southern Europe (5.5 kWh/m²/day). For cloudier regions, add 20‑30% more collectors.*

How It Works

Evacuated tube collectors on a ground frame capture sunlight.
Hot water (up to 80°C) flows into a large buffer tank inside the container.
A pump sends hot water to your hotel’s existing system.
An electric backup heater (or connection to your boiler) ensures you never run out.
The whole system is pre‑plumbed and pre‑wired – just connect cold water in, hot water out, and power.

Realistic Savings Example – 20‑Room Hotel (Southern Europe)

Assumptions:
Gas price: €0.15/kWh. Electric backup used 30% of the time at €0.20/kWh.

Without SunSteamSkid:
Annual gas use: 25,000 kWh → cost €3,750

With SunSteamSkid:
Solar provides 70% of heat. Backup electric: 7,500 kWh → cost €1,500

Annual saving: €2,250
System cost (installed): ~€18,000
Payback: 8 years

*For hotels currently using electric resistance heating (€0.30/kWh), payback drops to 3‑4 years.*

FAQ – Hotels

Q: Does the container need a concrete base?
A: A flat, compacted gravel bed or small concrete pad works. We recommend a reinforced concrete pad for very large systems.

Q: Can I keep my existing gas boiler as backup?
A: Yes. The SunSteamSkid integrates easily – the controller can turn on your boiler when the tank temperature drops below a set point.

Q: What maintenance is required?
A: Wash the glass tubes twice a year. Check glycol level and pressure annually. Replace the anode rod in the tank every 5 years. That’s it.

Q: What if there are several cloudy days in a row?
A: The electric backup heater or your existing boiler automatically provides hot water. You never run out.

Q: Do you offer financing?
A: Yes – leasing or power‑purchase agreements are available. Ask us for details.

Q: Does the system work in winter when it's cold outside?
A: Yes. Our evacuated tube collectors are vacuum‑sealed, so outside air temperature has almost no effect on performance. What matters is sunlight — not heat. On a sunny winter day in Germany or the Netherlands (0°C outside), the collectors still produce 40‑60°C water — enough to heat your buffer tank for showers, kitchens, and laundry. The electric backup only kicks in on cloudy days or during very high demand.

FAQ: Can the SunSteamSkid handle extreme freezing temperatures (e.g., Alaska, Northern Canada)?

Yes – on request, we can modify the container for extreme cold climates.

Our standard system uses propylene glycol (antifreeze) in the solar loop, which is safe down to approximately -20°C.

For colder regions (down to -40°C or lower), we offer a cold‑climate upgrade package that includes:

Higher concentration of glycol (up to 50%) or a drain‑back system (no freeze risk at any temperature)
Extra insulation on all external pipes and the container itself
Heat tracing (electric heating cables) on exposed pipes
Small electric heater inside the container to keep equipment above freezing

Contact us with your location and expected winter temperatures – we will design a system that works reliably in your climate.

Ready to lower your hotel’s energy bills?
Contact us for a free, no‑obligation feasibility study and a quote tailored to your hotel.

AuroraSkid– Solar heat, simplified