UK’s biggest zoo-based solar meadow at Edinburgh Zoo

At the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) we are fully aware of the climate crisis and the impact it has on life around the world. As climate change threatens more and more species with problems such as habitat loss and even extinction, our 2030 strategy pledges to reverse the decline of 50 species by the end of the decade.

Our wildlife conservation charity has also committed to reducing its carbon footprint by 60% by 2030 and becoming net zero by 2040. To achieve this objective, we are keen to develop and demonstrate innovative best practice in sustainability across all our charity’s operations. 

Nature and nature-based solutions must be utilised, and RZSS is very pleased to be working with E.ON to build a new solar meadow at the top of Edinburgh Zoo which will feature 1,548 solar photovoltaic panels that could potentially generate more than one megawatt of power. Excitingly, the solar meadow is expected to generate around 25% of the zoo’s electricity consumption, making us the most sustainable zoo in the UK in terms of energy generation, and the third greenest in Europe.

To show that solar panels and wildlife can exist in harmony we will encourage native species to use the site with the planting of wildflowers, as well as hedgehog, bat and bird boxes, insect hotels and log piles. One of our charity’s main focuses is helping to save rare invertebrates such as the dark bordered beauty moth and pine hoverfly from extinction in Scotland, so we know how important it is to provide habitats for these smaller fauna and flora to flourish.

As a charity we have been hit particularly hard by rising energy prices. Many of the species in our care need habitats that are kept at a constant, warm temperature throughout the year. For example, to heat our chimpanzee enclosure, Budongo Trail, it takes more energy each year than our entire operations at Highland Wildlife Park.

The solar meadow is an important step on our journey to becoming a net zero carbon zoo and a global exemplar for biodiversity and sustainability. It 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.

Achieving net zero carbon emissions is one of the most significant commitments in our strategy and we want to influence and encourage other organisations to do the same. Creating a solar meadow at Edinburgh Zoo is a major step in this programme, alongside assessing and supporting an appropriate carbon offsetting programme which is linked to positive biodiversity objectives.