L'Artbanne: An Energy-Autonomous 5-Star Lodge in Champagne
Discover how L'Artbanne, a 5-star lodge in Champagne, enhanced its energy autonomy and reduced its grid dependency using a 35.5 kWp solar installation coupled with a 41 kWh Battwoo second-life battery.
- Solar Self-Consumption
- Peak/Off-Peak Shifting
- Energy Management
- PV Power
- 35.5 kWp
- Storage capacity: 41 kWh
- 41 kWh
- Hybrid inverter
- Solis 40 kW
Located in Saint-Hilaire-le-Petit, in the heart of the Champagne countryside, L'Artbanne is a 5-star lodge consisting of two independent houses—Gaïa and Hestia—that can accommodate up to 22 guests. Just a few kilometers from Reims and the Champagne vineyards, the estate combines a preserved natural setting with high-end luxury.
To support its development while reducing grid dependency, L'Artbanne invested in a comprehensive solar installation, scaled to maximize on-site energy utilization and enhance the estate's energy autonomy.
A 35.5 kWp solar production tailored to a lodge's profile
The estate is now equipped with 80 photovoltaic panels for a total peak power of 35.5 kWp. This production covers a large portion of the lodge's daytime energy needs, when consumption is at its highest: meal preparation, air conditioning, leisure equipment, and water heating.
The site's unobstructed exposure, opening onto the Champagne countryside, offers favorable irradiation conditions and optimized yield year-round.
41 kWh Battwoo storage and 40 kW Solis hybrid inverter
To fully exploit this renewable energy beyond sunny hours, a 41 kWh Battwoo battery was installed, coupled with a 40 kW Solis hybrid inverter. The storage and inverter components were deployed by Solair' Forez, the project's installation partner.
The entire system enables fine-tuned energy management: excess electricity produced during the day is stored, then discharged in the evening and at night, when consumption continues but PV production stops.
Remote management via the SolisCloud EMS
The installation is supervised by the SolisCloud EMS (Energy Management System), which allows for real-time monitoring and remote adjustment of battery operating rules:
- Maximization of self-consumption
- Peak shaving
- Scheduled charging and discharging over fixed time slots
- Time-of-use (TOU) arbitrage between peak and off-peak hours
This flexibility allows the energy strategy to be adapted according to the lodge's occupancy rate, the season, and evolving grid tariffs.
A second-life battery: carbon footprint divided by four
Thanks to the repurposing of modules from electric vehicle batteries, L'Artbanne's Battwoo unit boasts a carbon footprint of less than 2,000 kg CO₂eq, which is about 4 times lower than an equivalent stationary battery manufactured from new cells.
Beyond the environmental benefits, opting for a second-life battery offers controlled investment costs while maintaining performance tailored to the stationary use of a lodge: daily cycling, long operational life, and a predictable load profile.
Project summary
- Site: L'Artbanne 5-star lodge, Saint-Hilaire-le-Petit (France).
- PV production: 80 panels, 35.5 kWp.
- Storage: Battwoo second-life battery, 41 kWh.
- Conversion: Solis 40 kW hybrid inverter.
- Installer: Solair' Forez.
- Control: SolisCloud EMS (remote monitoring and rules).
- Battery carbon footprint: < 2,000 kg CO₂eq (≈ ÷4 vs. new).