A representative calculation, not a Ray2Volt installation. The 85-room hotel below is an illustrative property. Its loads, capital allowance and savings show how a proposal can be evaluated. They do not describe a completed customer project, and the photographs are illustrative.
Your occupancy, bill and terrace layout will change the result. Request an estimate for your property.
Key points
- The model hotel faces a commercial tariff above ₹10.50 per unit after charges; confirm your APSPDCL category and live tariff.
- Air conditioning, linen laundry, kitchens and hot-water heat pumps provide substantial daytime demand.
- At 100 kWp, the example makes about 1,45,000 units a year and uses 96% on site, reducing the model bill by ₹1,26,500 a month.
- An elevated frame with 9.5 ft clearance retains terrace use; the table calculates 3.10 years simple payback under its assumptions.
A Tirupati hotel has to keep guest rooms cool, serve hot water, turn over linen and run its kitchen even on a busy check-in day. The power bill continues when occupancy changes. In this example, those daytime loads make the roof worth assessing for solar, provided the array can fit around water tanks, cooling plant and guest areas.
The 85-room model assumes APSPDCL Category II(A) Commercial supply, HT or LT, under the APERC FY 2026-27 order dated 25 March 2026. Indicative energy charges are ₹8.50 to ₹9.20 per unit, with ₹475 to ₹550 per kVA in demand charges, plus fuel adjustment and duty. Confirm the current order. Monthly bills in the example range from ₹2,80,000 to ₹3,60,000, equal to about 15% to 22% of its operating expenditure.
Rooftop output can directly serve cooling, laundry and kitchen demand while guests continue using the property. The worked 100 kWp scheme therefore examines load timing, elevated mounting, construction scheduling and cash flow. For the wider service scope, read about solar for hotels and our commercial solar projects.
Map the hotel’s daytime demand
An energy audit should separate the hotel’s large daytime loads rather than use only its total monthly units. The example allocates power among air conditioning, laundry, kitchens and hot-water heat pumps. Record their operating hours and any seasonal occupancy swings before estimating how much solar the site will use.
- Cooling, around 50% to 55%: VRF units or chilled-water fan coils work hardest when Tirupati exceeds 38°C from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM, close to the solar peak.
- Laundry, around 15% to 20%: A 50 kg washer-extractor, heated dryers and linen ironers run between 8:30 AM and 3:00 PM for afternoon room turnover.
- Kitchen and cold rooms, around 10% to 15%: Induction ranges, dishwashers, walk-in freezers and exhaust hoods serve breakfast and lunch.
- Hot-water heat pumps, around 8% to 12%: Air-to-water units supply 85 bathrooms and can run in the warmer daytime hours.
From 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, the model has enough air conditioning and service equipment running to use 96% of generated solar power directly. That reduces purchased units at the assumed ₹10.50 per unit blended value, with little dependence on export credit. Another property may have a different self-consumption rate on quiet days.
Solar panels do not by themselves make a property a certified green hotel. If you want to make an environmental claim to guests or corporate clients, measure the generated units and follow the relevant certification rules. The business case in this example rests on the electricity bill.
The representative 85-room Tirupati hotel
Use this representative hotel in Tirupati’s pilgrim corridor to follow the calculations. The 85 rooms, equipment, consumption and bills below are model inputs, not records from a named hotel.
- Property layout: A 5-storey building with 85 rooms, a multi-cuisine vegetarian restaurant, a 250-seat banquet hall and an in-house laundry.
- Approved supply: 180 kVA contract demand under APSPDCL HT Category II(A)(i) Commercial.
- Grid use before solar: 31,000 to 36,000 kWh a month, with an average ₹3,45,000 bill and ₹10.45 per kWh blended rate.
- Generator assumption: One 160 kVA DG set runs 30 to 40 hours monthly during summer feeder cuts and uses about 900 litres at ₹98 per litre.
- Terrace: 11,000 sq ft of flat reinforced concrete, with lift plant, cooling towers and overhead water tanks taking part of the area.
Fit 100 kWp around terrace plant
Hotel terraces contain cooling towers, booster pumps, lift rooms and exhaust ducts, so gross roof area is a poor sizing guide. Survey clearances and model shade from parapets and taller plant before choosing module rows. Maintenance staff and guests must retain safe access to the areas they use.
For this example, a drone survey and Helioscope model map shadows from the lift core and water tanks. Setting the array back from these obstacles lets 172 DCR-compliant 580 Wp TOPCon bifacial modules fit at 100 kWp DC in 8,200 sq ft of net area. The final layout still needs a structural check and a walk-through of drainage and fire access.
Two 50 kW Sungrow string inverters divide the east and west terrace areas. Each has four MPPT inputs in the model, so a shaded string in the morning need not reduce output from an unshaded group. Compare predicted hourly generation with HVAC and laundry use before finalising the electrical connection.
Keep the terrace usable beneath the array
An owner may already use the terrace for guest events, dining or yoga. Low panel rows can block that space and be prominent from room balconies. The worked design therefore raises the array over a defined guest area, with columns tied to the building’s structural grid rather than placed wherever panels are easiest to fit.
The proposed elevated solar pergola keeps the roof in use. Its steel columns, module spacing and water channels are part of a single structural and weatherproofing design. The hotel should review the finished sightlines, access height, drainage detail and fire route before accepting the layout.
- Walking height: Hot-dip galvanised steel columns are tied to main RCC columns with chemical anchors and give 9.5 ft clearance for guests and events below.
- Module appearance: Dual-glass bifacial panels and gaps between them admit filtered daylight, leaving a shaded pergola rather than a closed roof.
- Rain management: Aluminium channels lead water to perimeter gutters. The model claims a 7,500 sq ft covered venue; test the junctions before calling it dry in a storm.
Shading the slab may lower top-floor heat gain. This model assumes a 3°C to 5°C ceiling-temperature reduction and 8% less air-conditioning use in fifth-floor rooms. Treat that as an illustrative secondary benefit; measure room loads and roof temperatures before adding it to a financial forecast.
Example bill savings and tax treatment
The 100 kWp example allows ₹45,50,000 in capital, or ₹45,500 per kWp. The scope includes DCR modules, two 50 kW inverters, galvanised elevated steelwork, gutters, net-metering work and CEIG approvals. Since the June 2026 ALMM List-II shift, we quote new commercial work with DCR modules unless an exemption is verified. The assumed DCR premium is ₹9 to ₹12 per Wp; this worked allowance is not a price quote.
| Operating measure | Before the array | After adding 100 kWp | Change in the model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grid units bought each year | 3,96,000 kWh | 2,51,000 kWh | 36.6% fewer grid units |
| Solar units produced yearly | 0 kWh | 1,45,000 kWh | Yield of 1,450 kWh/kWp a year |
| Solar used at the hotel | N/A | 96% (~1,39,200 kWh) | Serves VRF cooling and laundry |
| Surplus credited by the meter | 0 kWh | 4% (~5,800 kWh) | APSPDCL credit assumed |
| Typical monthly grid bill | ₹3,45,000 | ₹2,18,500 | ₹1,26,500 lower each month |
| Grid bill over a year | ₹41,38,200 | ₹26,20,200 | Grid cost lower by ₹15,18,000 |
| Yearly cleaning and O&M allowance | ₹0 | ₹50,000 | Module cleaning every two weeks |
| Yearly cash benefit after O&M | Not applicable | Not applicable | ₹14,68,000 for the year |
The tax table models 40% written-down-value accelerated depreciation under section 33 of the Income-tax Act, 2025, applying its assumed 25% tax rate in Year 1. That treatment depends on ownership, taxable income and asset use. Ask your chartered accountant to confirm the current rate and your eligibility before using the after-tax payback figure.
| Cash-flow measure | Before the model tax effect | After assumed 40% depreciation |
|---|---|---|
| Installed capital for 100 kWp | ₹45,50,000 | ₹45,50,000 |
| Year 1 tax effect: 40% AD at 25% tax | ₹0 | ₹4,55,000 |
| Capital after the model tax effect | ₹45,50,000 | ₹40,95,000 |
| Yearly cash saving | ₹14,68,000 | ₹14,68,000 |
| Calculated simple payback | 3.10 Years | 2.78 Years |
| Model internal rate of return | 29.2% | 34.6% |
| Model net profit over 25 years | ₹3.22 Crores | ₹3.26 Crores |
Install while the hotel remains open
Construction must be planned around a working hotel. A noisy lift or blocked service route affects guests and staff, so agree lifting windows, terrace closures and deliveries with operations first. The model uses prefabrication, a short crane window and screened work zones, but the exact timetable should follow the hotel’s occupancy pattern.
- Fabrication away from guests: Cut, drill and galvanise the steel at the yard so roof work avoids cutting torches and grinders.
- Planned lifting: The example schedules the crane between 11:30 AM and 1:30 PM, subject to the hotel’s actual checkout and arrival pattern.
- Screened work area: Keep guests outside the terrace zone with acoustic barriers and use cordless torque tools where suitable.
All figures here are indicative; tariffs and schemes may change. The table calculates 3.10 years simple payback, or 2.78 years after its assumed tax effect. Businesses typically assess 3 to 5 years after a site audit. Confirm the financial assumptions and depreciation eligibility with your chartered accountant. Ray2Volt does not give tax or investment advice.
Frequently asked questions
Can the solar canopy provide a usable guest terrace?
It can, if structural loading, headroom, drainage and guest access are designed together. The example provides 9.5 ft clearance and water channels between bifacial modules. A shaded lounge or event area is possible under the array, but the finished weatherproofing and local approvals need review.
How can installation be scheduled around hotel guests?
Installation can be staged to limit disruption, but no contractor should promise that guests will notice nothing. This example has fabrication away from the hotel, screened terrace work and lifting during a planned checkout window. Agree noisy tasks and any terrace closure with the property manager before work begins.
Why does a hotel use so much solar energy on site?
Laundry machines, dryers, ironers and induction kitchen equipment often run during the hotel’s morning and midday service period. In this model, use from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM overlaps with strong solar output. Confirm the actual shift schedule and equipment demand to estimate on-site use.
Can a hotel claim accelerated depreciation on solar?
Eligible businesses may claim 40% written-down-value depreciation under section 33 of the Income-tax Act, 2025. The hotel’s legal structure, taxable income and date of use matter. Your chartered accountant should confirm the rate and eligibility; the worked tax shield is an assumption, not advice.
What payback does the 100 kWp hotel example show?
The model’s capital and annual cash benefit produce 3.10 years simple payback, or 2.78 years after its assumed tax effect. Its tariff range of ₹10.00 to ₹11.20 per unit is illustrative. For your hotel, use a site-audited business range of 3 to 5 years and check the current APSPDCL tariff before making a decision.
Ray2Volt Solar Private Limited
We design, install, and service rooftop solar for homes and businesses across Tirupati district and Andhra Pradesh, from PM Surya Ghar residential systems to commercial and industrial plants. Every enquiry starts with a free power audit.
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Send your recent commercial bill and terrace plan. We will check shade, structure, guest access and daytime demand, then provide a proposal with explicit generation and payback assumptions.
