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Unlock This CourseThe travel and tourism industry is one of the biggest contributors to global carbon emissions. As pressure grows to make tourism more sustainable, destinations, hotels, transport operators and tour companies are turning to alternative energy sources to reduce their environmental impact. Two of the most important alternatives are electricity (powered by renewables) and solar power.
These technologies are not just good for the planet they are increasingly good for business too. Tourists are more environmentally aware than ever and destinations that embrace clean energy can attract eco-conscious visitors while cutting long-term energy costs.
Key Definitions:
When electricity is generated from renewable sources like wind, solar, or hydro, it produces little or no carbon emissions. Using electric power in tourism for transport, hotels and attractions can dramatically cut the industry's carbon footprint. The key is making sure the electricity itself comes from clean sources, not coal or gas power stations.
Solar power is especially useful in tourism because many of the world's most popular tourist destinations the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Southeast Asia and Africa receive abundant sunshine year-round. Solar panels can be fitted to hotels, resorts, airports and even boats, generating free, clean electricity right where it is needed.
Solar energy is one of the fastest-growing renewable technologies in the world. In tourism, it is being used in a wide variety of ways from powering entire island resorts to heating swimming pools and providing lighting for safari lodges.
Solar panels contain photovoltaic (PV) cells that convert sunlight directly into electricity. This electricity can be used immediately, stored in batteries for use at night, or fed into the national grid. Solar thermal systems work differently they use sunlight to heat water directly, which is useful for hotel showers and swimming pools.
Large hotels use solar panels on rooftops and car parks to generate electricity. Some resorts in sunny locations generate enough solar power to cover most of their daily energy needs, reducing electricity bills and emissions significantly.
Several airports worldwide have installed solar farms on unused land nearby. Cochin International Airport in India became the world's first fully solar-powered airport in 2015, generating more electricity than it uses.
In remote areas without grid electricity, eco-lodges rely entirely on solar panels and battery storage. This allows tourism in wilderness areas without the need for diesel generators, which are noisy and polluting.
Location: Kerala, India
What happened: In 2015, Cochin International Airport (CIAL) became the world's first fully solar-powered airport. The airport installed a 12-megawatt solar farm on 45 acres of unused land near the runway. The panels generate around 50,000–60,000 units of electricity per day more than the airport actually uses. Surplus electricity is fed back into the local grid.
Impact: Since going solar, the airport has offset over 1.5 lakh tonnes of carbon emissions (equivalent to planting 3 million trees). It saves approximately ₹6 crore (around £600,000) per year in electricity costs. The project won the Champion of the Earth award from the United Nations in 2018.
Why it matters for tourism: Cochin is a major gateway for tourists visiting Kerala's famous backwaters and beaches. The airport handles millions of passengers annually, so making it solar-powered has a significant positive environmental impact on the region's tourism industry.
While previous lessons have covered electric vehicles and hydrogen transport in general, this section focuses specifically on how electric power from renewable sources is being applied within tourism destinations including electric safari vehicles, electric ferries, electric tourist buses and solar-charged transport systems.
Many tourist destinations have introduced electric shuttle buses to move visitors around without producing exhaust fumes. This is particularly important in sensitive environments such as national parks, historic city centres and island destinations where air quality and noise matter enormously.
For example, the Zion National Park in the USA introduced a fleet of propane-powered and later electric shuttle buses to reduce traffic congestion and pollution inside the park. Visitors must use the shuttles rather than private cars in peak season, protecting the natural environment while still allowing access.
Location: El Hierro, Canary Islands, Spain
What happened: El Hierro is a small island with a population of around 11,000 people. In 2014, it became the world's first island to achieve 100% renewable energy through a unique combination of wind turbines and a hydroelectric pumped-storage system. When the wind blows strongly, excess energy pumps water uphill into a reservoir. When demand is high and wind is low, the water flows back down through turbines to generate electricity.
Tourism impact: El Hierro markets itself as a sustainable tourism destination and has attracted eco-tourists from across Europe. Electric vehicles are promoted on the island and the clean energy system is itself a tourist attraction. The island has UNESCO Biosphere Reserve status.
Key lesson: Small island destinations which are often heavily dependent on diesel generators can transition to renewable electricity, benefiting both residents and tourists.
Water transport is a major part of tourism in many destinations from river cruises in Europe to island-hopping ferries in Greece and Thailand. Traditional boats run on diesel, which pollutes both the air and the water. Solar-powered and electric boats offer a cleaner alternative.
The Solar Shuttle on Lake Constance (Germany/Switzerland/Austria) has operated as a solar-powered passenger ferry since 2000, carrying tourists across the lake using only solar energy. In the Maldives, several resorts now use solar-electric speedboats to transfer guests from the airport to their island resort, replacing noisy, polluting diesel engines.
Norwegian cruise company Hurtigruten launched the world's first hybrid-electric expedition cruise ship, the MS Roald Amundsen, in 2019. It uses large battery packs charged by the ship's engines to allow periods of silent, zero-emission sailing. This is especially important when sailing through fragile Arctic and Antarctic environments. Hurtigruten plans to convert its entire fleet to hybrid or fully electric power by 2030.
In African national parks such as the Kruger National Park in South Africa, some safari operators have introduced solar-charged electric game drive vehicles. These vehicles are silent, which actually improves the safari experience animals are less disturbed, allowing tourists to get closer. Solar panels at the lodge charge the vehicles overnight, meaning the entire operation can run off-grid using clean energy.
Solar and electric systems produce zero direct emissions during operation. They reduce noise pollution as well as air pollution particularly important in sensitive natural environments. They help destinations meet sustainability targets and international climate agreements.
Once installed, solar panels and battery systems have very low running costs. Hotels and airports can dramatically cut electricity bills. In remote destinations that currently rely on expensive imported diesel, solar power can be significantly cheaper in the long run. It also creates local jobs in installation and maintenance.
Eco-conscious tourists actively seek out destinations and businesses that use renewable energy. A solar-powered resort or electric safari company can charge premium prices and attract a growing market of environmentally aware travellers. Sustainability credentials are increasingly a competitive advantage.
Despite the clear benefits, there are real challenges to rolling out solar and electric power across the tourism industry:
In iGCSE exams, you may be asked to evaluate the effectiveness of alternative energy sources in making tourism more sustainable. Remember to:
Solar and electric power are not a complete solution on their own but they are a vital part of making tourism more sustainable. When combined with other strategies (such as energy efficiency, responsible tourist behaviour and sustainable transport), they can make a real difference.
Governments, international organisations and tourism businesses all have a role to play. The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) particularly Goal 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and Goal 13 (Climate Action) provide a global framework that encourages the tourism industry to shift towards renewable energy.
Destinations that act early like El Hierro and Cochin are already reaping the rewards: lower costs, better environmental credentials and a growing share of the eco-tourism market. The challenge is making these technologies accessible and affordable for smaller operators and developing-world destinations too.