Lower running costs
In general commercial solar panels can help organisations save between 50-70% on energy bills adding financial benefits as well as environmental gains.
Sustainable solar for Edinburgh zoo
Reducing environmental impact with solar energy
How will Edinburgh Zoo benefit from a solar meadow?
The most sustainable UK zoo
The solar meadow should generate around 24% of the zoo’s electricity, making it the most sustainable zoo in the UK, and the third greenest in Europe.
Saving 200,000kg of C02 a year
It's set to save over 200,000kg of CO2 a year, which is equivalent to the emissions of 62.5 homes or 106 return flights from London to New York a year.
How will it work?
Working with one of our solar partners we assessed the whole site to understand the scope of self-generation opportunities available at the zoo.
With a key focus of reducing energy usage and fuel consumption, Edinburgh Zoo’s new ‘solar meadow’ will feature more than 1500 bi-facial solar photovoltaic (PV) panels which could generate more than 1MW of power. The solar meadow is expected to generate around 25% of the RZSS’ electricity consumption, with the 1548 solar panels being installed on the site by the end of 2023.
"“It’s vital that we inspire people to protect, value and love nature, and that starts with ensuring we’re reducing our own carbon paw-print on site at our zoos. Nature and nature-based solutions must be prioritised, and our new solar installation with E.ON is a huge step in setting RZSS as a global exemplar for biodiversity and sustainability. The meadow is projected to generate up to 880,000 kWh a year, which represents a saving of 194 tonnes of CO2e, or 8% of our carbon annually.”
A new education centre
Overcoming the challenges of a city site
Selecting a suitable location at this city zoo was initially challenging, but all parties worked together to identify the best possible site. Working together with our partner we found an innovative mounting system to combat the rocky hill top location and install the solar panels safely and effectively.
We worked with the local DNO to be able to agree a means to connect a 1 MW solar site so close to the city centre and gained the correct planning permissions required from the local council.
"“There’s no greater positive link between energy and our environment than generating sustainable power and using it for wildlife conservation, and this agreement with RZSS delivers both an economic and environmental win. This project contributes to the great work of RZSS and is just one of the ways we’re working with customers at home, in business and across whole communities, taking climate action to help the UK meet its net zero targets and combat the climate crisis.”
