Meliá Hotels International and CEPM inaugurate solar park
![](https://dominicantoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Palma-Real.jpg)
Punta Cana.- The Paradisus Palma Real hotel and the Punta Cana-Macao Energy Consortium (CEPM) have officially inaugurated a photovoltaic plant, boasting 901 solar modules and an installed power capacity of 500 kWp. In its first year of operation, the plant is projected to produce an estimated 791 MWh of energy, resulting in the avoidance of approximately 560 tons of CO2 emissions, equivalent to 465 barrels of oil.
Francisco Camps, the Area General Director of Meliá Hotels International in the Dominican Republic, emphasized that this initiative aligns with the commitment of the Meliá Hotels International Group to environmental protection. He stated, “We view sustainability as a crucial tool for leaving a positive legacy on our planet and society, achieved through responsible resource management with the goal of continually reducing our CO2 emissions.”
Camps further highlighted the significance of the alliance between Meliá Hotels International and CEPM, a leading energy company in the Dominican Republic. He praised CEPM for offering new energy solutions that contribute to sustainable development, particularly in regions such as Punta Cana.
The investment in this photovoltaic plant by CEPM underscores Meliá Hotels International’s dedication to advancing the decarbonization of its operations, thus promoting a more efficient and environmentally responsible tourism model.
Oscar San Martín, the general manager of CEPM, expressed enthusiasm for the solar park’s inauguration, emphasizing its role in supporting their joint mission to establish the tourist destination as a zero-emissions hub of global significance.
The event was attended by executives from Meliá Hotels International in the Dominican Republic, including Francisco Avalos, Director of Operations; Antonio Fuentes, businessman; Ángel Medina, general manager of Paradisus Palma Real; Henry Báez, from the Technical Service and Engineering department; Sara Ranghi, Marketing and Brand Development representative for America, as well as Lourdes Ripoll, the Group’s Sustainability representative, among others.
Representatives from CEPM included Oscar San Martín, the general manager; Antonio Martorell, the commercial director; Claudia Castillo, the commercial and customer experience manager; and Carlos Rodríguez, the senior manager of Marketing and Corporate Affairs. Additionally, representatives from Trace Solar, including José Hernández, the executive director, and Aníbal de la Rosa, the general director, were present, both of whom are part of the Association for the Promotion of Renewable Energies (ASOFER).
Awesome. Love to see this starting in the Punta Cana region and hopefully expanding Nationwide. It certainly requires a heavy investment by the parties, but I do hope that when the power is offered to the Dominican citizens they can enjoy a reduced rate per KWh. Punta Cana has the higher kWh rate in the hemisphere given the lack of competition and existent monopoly.