In the far south of Gran Canaria, where the sun shines almost year-round, the Radisson Blu Mogan has become a model of hotel sustainability thanks to the installation of 722 solar panels on its spacious rooftops. The project was carried out by Alfa 90, a Canarian company with expertise in this type of operation.
The investment, promoted by the Wenaas Group, seeks to reduce the resort's carbon footprint and consolidate the island as an environmentally friendly tourist destination.
“We are testing this investment in one of the sunniest areas in the world,” says Trude Wenaas, director of the Norwegian group's 18 hotels, and responsible for making the Radisson Blu Mogan the only resort in its portfolio. The investment has involved an outlay of nearly half a million euros, or 5 million Norwegian kroner, and is expected to pay for itself in 4,5 years, generating between 15% and 20% of the total energy needed for a hotel with 422 rooms and more than 1.000 guests during peak season.
The project is not only functional but also aesthetic. According to hotel director Finn Berstad, “The arrangement of the panels in a row fits perfectly with the hotel's unique architecture; on the contrary, it serves as a powerful visual calling card for both Radisson Blu and the Wenaas Group.”
From the air, the panels form an impressive spectacle that highlights the resort's commitment to renewable energy.
The Radisson Blu Mogan, opened in 2016 and soon to celebrate its tenth anniversary, benefits from being in Mogán, considered one of the sunniest places on the planet, with around 340 days of sunshine per year.
The area is ideal not only for solar generation, but also for attracting Nordic tourists looking to escape the hot summers of continental Europe.
In addition to the panels, the hotel has added charging stations for electric vehicles, although it acknowledges that electric mobility remains a minority option in Gran Canaria. "Although 80% of the island's electricity is still produced from fossil fuels, we are very satisfied with our investment and the collaboration with our owner, Wenaasgruppen," Berstad notes.
Maintaining the hotel's infrastructure in optimal condition requires constant effort. Intense solar radiation requires regular maintenance, which includes refurbishing exterior materials, improving poolside restaurants, and updating technical facilities. In recent years, the maintenance cost of the hotel's outdoor areas has reached approximately €500.000.
The Radisson Blu Mogan project reflects the Wenaas Group's philosophy: implementing continuous energy-saving and sustainability measures in all its hotels, including facade insulation, window replacement, and technological upgrades. This strategy makes the resort a benchmark for sustainable tourism in Gran Canaria, consolidating its appeal in the Norwegian and Nordic markets.
Looking to the future, the combination of constant sunshine, energy innovation, and hotel management focused on guest well-being ensures that the Radisson Blu Mogan remains a preferred destination for thousands of tourists seeking to enjoy the climate, the beach, and sustainability in southern Gran Canaria.
