Tech

This beautiful resort runs entirely on renewable energy

Danielle Muoio

2016-03-14T21:14:29Z

There's a beautiful new resort opening in the United Arab Emirates, but the best part isn't its tranquil palm trees or central spring — the new getaway will give off zero emissions.

Called the Oasis Eco Resort, the retreat will open in 2020 in the southern region of the UAE. It will come with high-tech features to make it both sustainable and futuristic.

Here's a closer look:

The hotel comes in the shape of a star with a beautiful spring laying in the heart of it.

Eco Resort Group is the brains behind the project, which is being built by London-based Baharash Architecture.

That border is actually a solar-panel lined roof covering a series of 84 interconnecting suites.

Most suites will be used to house guests, but there will also be a restaurant and bar, spa, gym, research and business hubs, and reception area.

And the 157,000 square feet of solar panels sitting above the suites will be used to power the resort.

Batteries will also be used to store electricity, and the architecture firm is looking at options to feed energy back into the grid.

Those suites all look out at the fresh-water spring that will provide water for crop irrigation, fish-farming, and recreational activities. It will also serve as a natural habitat for wildlife.

Water from the spring will also be used with an on-site filtration plant to provide drinking water, Baharash Bagherian, the designer heading the architecture firm, told Tech Insider via email.

From the suite you can easily see the spring and sand dunes in the distance.

But guests can easily block their view for privacy by flicking a switch and turning the smart glass windows opaque.

Wildlife biologists will remain on-site to preserve and study the animals and plants at the resort and educate guests on what they are seeing, Bagherian said.

"The educational and research activities in the resort will also attract professionals, enthusiasts in the fields of conservation, wildlife, sustainability and ecotourism," Bagherian said.

The Oasis Eco Resort is working on getting electric buses that can drive up to 186 miles on a single charge to shuttle guests from the Abu Dhabi International Airport to the resort.

Those who elect to drive will have to park their car outside the resort's gates to keep the zone zero emission.

Resort Sustainability