Why SPA zones are among the most energy intensive spaces
SPA and wellness areas are some of the most demanding zones in any hospitality property. Warm pools, saunas, steam rooms, air handling with high air exchange, 24/7 hot water, mood lighting and background music all create an environment guests love, but the grid does not. Research on indoor pools and aquatic centres shows that ventilation and air handling alone can account for a very high share of electricity consumption in such facilities, with water treatment and circulation adding another large portion to the bill.
In Ukraine, where tariffs are volatile and grid reliability can vary by region, this profile creates a specific operational risk. A SPA zone that closes because of a power outage does not just lose several hours of revenue. It undermines the positioning of the hotel, resort or wellness complex as a premium, reliable destination. For facilities targeting international guests, this becomes a strategic issue, not a minor technical detail.
Globally, many hotels and resorts already treat SPA energy not as a fixed, unchangeable cost, but as a design variable. Properties that installed solar PV and storage report significant reductions in CO₂ emissions, noticeable annual savings and more predictable operating budgets, while protecting the guest experience from market shocks. For Ukrainian operators, the same logic applies: the question is no longer "if" but "how" to integrate solar and storage into SPA energy strategy.
For many hospitality brands, a hotel and resort solar energy solution "turnkey" that explicitly covers pools, wellness areas, laundry and kitchens is becoming part of the core investment plan. When the SPA is designed together with the energy system, rather than added later, the business case usually improves over the full 15-20 year life of the project.
What drives energy demand in SPA environments
The largest loads in SPA zones follow a consistent pattern both worldwide and in Ukraine:
- Constant temperature and humidity in pools, hot tubs and relaxation areas
- High hot water demand for showers, hydrotherapy and cleaning
- Long operating hours, often from early morning until late evening
- Strong expectations for visual comfort, quiet operation and stable air quality
Because of this profile, the share of electricity in total energy use is rising, especially where electric heat pumps, air handling units and advanced water treatment are installed. This is exactly where solar PV combined with batteries can have the most impact.
How solar PV and storage change the economics of SPA zones
In a typical Ukrainian hotel or SPA complex, peak electricity use often aligns with daylight hours: circulation pumps, ventilation units and kitchen equipment are active while guests use the pools and relaxation spaces. This synchronisation already favours rooftop or ground mounted solar PV. The main challenge appears in the evening, when SPA sessions continue but solar generation drops.
Experience from hospitality projects in Europe and other regions shows a clear pattern. Properties that combine PV with on site storage and active energy management can offset a substantial share of their electricity needs and smooth out the evening profile instead of importing expensive peak power. For Ukrainian operators, this is relevant not only for cost, but also for managing grid connection limits and adapting to future regulatory changes.
For larger wellness complexes, a commercial building solar monitoring and O and M service layer becomes critical. Real time monitoring, fault detection and performance analytics help keep the system aligned with SPA operating hours, seasonal changes in occupancy and maintenance schedules for pools and saunas. Instead of a static asset on the roof, the energy system turns into a managed service that supports the guest experience day after day.
From daytime sun to evening SPA sessions
A well designed SPA focused solar and storage system typically follows three principles:
- Maximise self consumption of solar generation during daytime operation of pools, HVAC and common areas.
- Use batteries to shift part of the surplus from midday to evening SPA and wellness sessions.
- Maintain the option to support other critical zones of the property during grid disturbances, without compromising comfort in the SPA.
In practice, this means combining PV arrays on roofs, canopies or adjacent land with a battery system sized not only by kilowatt hours, but by the specific load profile of the SPA. International providers already report payback periods of only a few years for hospitality projects that blend PV, efficiency upgrades and storage, especially where energy tariffs are rising or incentives are available.
Key design focus areas for SPA energy projects in Ukraine
For SPA owners, developers and hotel operators in Ukraine, several technical and strategic points deserve early attention:
- Map hourly load profiles for pools, saunas, ventilation and common areas separately from guest rooms
- Prioritise south oriented roofs or façades with minimal shading for PV, but consider carports or nearby land if SPA roofs are limited by equipment
- Integrate ventilation energy efficiency measures such as heat recovery, demand controlled ventilation and pool covers alongside PV and storage decisions
- Evaluate grid constraints, connection capacity and potential curtailment rules at the design stage, not after equipment is ordered
- Plan monitoring and maintenance contracts from day one, with clear KPIs for availability, performance and response times
Strategic roadmap for Ukrainian SPA owners and developers
For a SPA project, the decision to go solar is less about enthusiasm for new technology and more about long term positioning. Guests increasingly expect visible sustainability efforts, while investors look closely at energy resilience in hospitality assets. Case studies from European hotels and SPA complexes show that integrating renewable energy and efficiency measures does not weaken the luxury experience, but often strengthens the brand and helps achieve higher sustainability ratings.
A practical roadmap for Ukrainian operators can look like this:
- Start with a technical and financial pre study focused on SPA and wellness zones, not only on the building average.
- Model several scenarios: PV only, PV plus small battery, PV plus larger battery with demand management, including sensitivity to future tariff changes.
- Align the project with ESG expectations of lenders and international partners, using benchmarks from markets where SPA energy standards and green certifications are already mature.
- Choose partners with a track record in commercial PV, storage and hospitality, and insist on transparent performance guarantees.
For many facilities, adding batteries for solar power stations is the step that turns solar from a static cost reduction tool into a strategic asset. Storage gives the SPA the ability to decide when to draw from the grid, when to rely on own generation and when to keep capacity in reserve for critical events.
In this context, working with an experienced EPC and integrator such as Dolya Solar Energy helps bridge the gap between global best practice and local reality in Ukraine. The task is not simply to install panels and a battery room. It is to design an energy infrastructure that supports the SPA concept, meets Ukrainian regulatory requirements, fits the architectural vision and delivers predictable operating costs over the next decade and beyond.
When that alignment is achieved, SPA zones stop being a "beautiful but expensive" line in the P&L. They become a showcase of how energy intensive comfort can coexist with disciplined, data driven energy management and a clear statement to guests and partners that the business is prepared for the future energy landscape.
