Small hotels in downtown Playa del Carmen continue to face energy challenges, especially during storms that cause power outages, according to Offner Arjona, president of the Association of Small Hotels in Playa del Carmen.
Despite efforts by the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE), the hotels lack emergency generators capable of supplying electricity to all rooms.
Dependence on CFE
Offner Arjona highlighted that power outages still affect the downtown tourist area, where small hotels rely on CFE’s electricity supply. Although power cuts have decreased compared to previous years, there were recent failures between 26th and 34th streets.
Currently, 35 of the 200 small hotels in the center belong to the association, totaling 600 rooms. The lack of financial resources for investment in alternative energy solutions, such as high-capacity emergency generators, is one of the main problems these establishments face.
Investment in Clean Energy
Despite limitations, small downtown hotels are seeking sustainable alternatives. Offner Arjona mentioned ongoing training for investment in clean energy, such as solar panels, and implementing sustainable practices like reducing plastic use and proper waste management.
However, the initial investment to install solar panels in a small hotel with 15 to 20 rooms ranges between 750,000 and 1 million pesos, making it difficult for many to access this technology. Even with some hotels already having panels, they still depend on CFE’s grid, limiting their energy autonomy during prolonged outages.
Green Energy in the Riviera Maya
Toni Chaves, president of the Riviera Maya Hotel Association, noted that 80% of the 531 hotels in the region already use solar panels. Although power outages are not as frequent, some small downtown hotels have started implementing clean energy solutions. However, Chaves added that installing wind turbines is complex due to height restrictions and the proximity of the local small airport.
Source: 24 Horas
