Green Revolution in Indian Hospitality: First Hotel to Run on Lithium Battery

When the pollution level in Delhi NCR is at its peak, we realize that the pollution is created by vehicles, industry, stubble burning, open waste burning construction activities, etc. One of the major pollutants is diesel generators, used in homes, industries, commercial spaces, and all areas where power is required in case of grid failure. Su-vastika in India is the first company to replace 300 KVA Diesel Generators with a high-capacity lithium Inverter of 200 KVA. It runs the Hotel in Delhi, which has 80 rooms and a large convocation centre with all the other facilities. Replacing a high-capacity diesel generator with lithium inverters in a running hotel can be complex. This Hotel is the first in the country to have a carbon-neutral and net-zero effect on power. Still, it offers several advantages regarding efficiency, environmental impact, and noise reduction. The Hotel Classic Diplomat is at the Main Road Mahipalpur, New Delhi. The cost of fuel bills will be approximately eight lakhs a year, and a lot of carbon emissions will be saved. The battery life is expected to last ten years, and the approximate savings in the running cost will be 80 to 90 lakhs in the next ten years, which is huge for Indian standards. https://www.google.com/maps/place/Hotel+Classic+Diplomat:+Best+Hotels+in+Delhi+NCR/@28.5478454,77.1231823,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m9!3m8!1s0x390d1c1375bcfd41:0x66318f467ed549d4!5m2!4m1!1i2!8m2!3d28.5478454!4d77.1257572!16s%2Fg%2F1hd_2f58t?entry=ttu

This is the first Hotel in Delhi NCR to convert from polluting Diesel Generators to a clean and green solution of lithium Inverters called Battery Energy Storage Systems. This building had the challenge of keeping the DG sets on the top of the building, which used to vibrate in case of power failure. Storing the Diesel was another big challenge, and maintaining the Generators as a dedicated person was required. When there was a power cut, there was complete darkness in the Hotel for almost 1 minute, and the whole operation was affected. Chances of accidents during that 1 minute of darkness were very high. Still, the Lithium Inverters work as an Uninterrupted Power Supply, and power is not flickering. All the equipment works along with the lifts in the Hotel, which is a big relief for the hotel staff and guests. All the air conditioning systems work without restart, and the cooling is maintained when switching the Lithium Inverter. The cooling used to stop and start the Air conditioning used to take more than 8 minutes times, which was another eye-sore for the guests. The NGT served the Hotel the pollution notice for stopping the generators, and they had no choice but to look for an alternative, clean, and easy-to-run arrangement. In the International arena, there are a lot of projects covered by the media, and one of them is :

Here’s a comprehensive overview of the process and its benefits:

Advantages of Replacing Diesel Gensets with Lithium Inverters

1. Reduced Environmental Impact: Diesel generators emit harmful pollutants like carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter, contributing to air pollution and negative health effects. On the contrary, lithium inverters produce zero emissions, making them an environmentally friendly alternative.
2. Improved Efficiency: Lithium inverters offer higher energy conversion efficiency than diesel generators. This means they convert a larger portion of the input energy into usable electricity, reducing energy waste and operating costs.
3. Reduced Noise Pollution: Diesel generators are notorious for their loud operation, which can disturb guests and disrupt the peaceful ambience of a hotel. Lithium inverters, on the other hand, operate silently, eliminating noise pollution and enhancing the overall guest experience.
4. No Maintenance Requirements: Diesel generators require regular maintenance, having a dedicated person to bring Diesel and take care of the generator, pouring Diesel and maintaining the records of diesel consumption, including oil changes, filter replacements, and tune-ups. Lithium inverters have minimal maintenance needs, reducing overall maintenance costs and downtime.https://suvastika.com/diesel-generator-vs-battery-energy-storage-system/
5. Cost: the running cost of a Diesel Generator is very high compared to the running cost of a Lithium Inverter as the life of the lithium battery bank is a minimum of 7 years, and the maximum could be 12 years, so the cost is recovered between 15 months to maximum three years of running. The life of the Lithium Inverter is 25 years compared to a Diesel Generator, which is a maximum of 10 years. Diesel costs are increasing yearly, and the difference between electricity power and Diesel is widening every two years.

Process of Replacing Diesel Gensets with Lithium Inverters

1. Assessment and Planning: The first step involves thoroughly assessing the Hotel’s power requirements, including peak demand, average load, and backup power needs. This assessment took a lot of time, and after this assessment, we reduced the sizing from 300 KVA to 200 KVA Lithium Battery Inverter and still left the scope of future requirements.
2. System Design and Installation: Once the assessment was complete, we started looking for a space where this lithium battery bank could be placed, with enough air and open space. We installed these lithium inverters, placed the lithium batteries and inverters, and connected the Hotel’s electrical system to these lithium inverters.
3. Testing and Commissioning: After installation, the system will undergo rigorous testing to ensure proper operation and compliance with electrical safety standards. This includes testing the inverters, batteries, and the overall system performance under various load conditions.
4. We connected the IOT System of the Lithium Battery bank with the local Wi-Fi system of the Hotel to monitor the various parameters of the energy consumption of the Hotel and phase balancing of the Power System and maintain the logs of all the alerts created by the lithium Battery System.
5. Training and Support: The hotel staff was given training on the operation and maintenance of the lithium inverter system. This includes understanding the system’s controls, monitoring energy usage, and troubleshooting potential issues.

Replacing diesel generators with lithium inverters is a significant investment that can bring long-term benefits in cost savings, environmental sustainability, and guest satisfaction. By carefully planning and executing the transition, hotels can modernize their power infrastructure and contribute to a cleaner and more sustainable future.