Eco retreat unveils solar-powered guest buggies

Frégate Island Private, the Seychelles’ pioneering eco and conservation resort, has launched its fleet of 14 new solar powered guest buggies as part of an ongoing drive towards achieving carbon-negative status. The new buggies will lead to a reduction in CO2 emissions of almost 42 tonnes per year - the equivalent of seven years worth of emissions from the average UK household.

The new buggies will see their electric predecessors reassigned to back-of-house operations - together with 10 new electric scooters - replacing 10 petrol powered buggies and thereby reducing fuel consumption by approximately 4,752 gallons per year; a saving of 41.677 tonnes per year in CO2 emissions, based on the recommended conversion factors provided by the UK Government Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs as part of its Environmental Reporting Guidelines.

A multi-award-winning luxury retreat, Frégate Island Private has spearheaded the development of eco-tourism in the Seychelles and is undertaking extensive ongoing research into the application of emerging energy technologies to its resort operation, in order to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

All staff quarters already have solar-assisted hot water systems, and successful experimentation in the use of pure coconut oil and recycled food oil is underway, with one island tractor already running on a mixture of diesel and used frying oil.

Frégate Island Private is also one of the most important sanctuaries for rare endemic and indigenous animals, setting an inspiring example for others to follow with conservation projects that have yielded dramatic results: the Magpie Robin, still the world’s seventh rarest bird, has been rejuvenated from a global population of just 22 - all on Frégate Island - in 1995 to over 140 today, including a family of 16 recently translocated to neighbouring Denis Island; the Seychelles Whiteye population is up from 31 in 1995 to over 100 today; and the critically endangered Seychelles terrapin has been nurtured back from just eight individuals to over 100 today.

Frégate Island has also reforested well over 80,000 local trees over the past decade as part of its programme to restore natural habitats, and, with two trees planted for every new arrival, the island boasts a guest:tree ratio of 1:17,600.

Find out more at Fregate.com.