HOTRES: renewable energies in the hotels. An extensive technical tool for the hotel industry

The project HOTRES aimed at the systematic implementation of conditions for future massive applications of the renewable energies in the tourism industry. Under the umbrella of this project five renewable energy technologies were promoted (solar thermal, solar passive, solar PV, biomass and geothermal energy) in parallel in five EU regions (East Attica, Sicily, Alpes-Maritimes, Andalusia and Madeira) by the corresponding agencies and promotion centers following an extensive and intensive work program be composed of six elaboration phases. The purpose of this article is to esteem the results achieved in the technical–economic field of the relevant extensive technical support project in 200 hotels as well as to validate the strategic methodology applied for the promotion of the renewable energy technologies (RETs) through the technical assistance of the hotel SMEs. Finally, by proving the liability and economic viability of RET applications in hotels, the largest European hotel installation with solar thermal is presented within technical and economic details.