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CLIENT
Noah's Ark Zoo Farm
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System Size
29.16kWp
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Estimated annual output
30,393kWh
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Annual CO2 savings
18,326kg
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Commissioned
2018
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Modules
JA Solar 270W
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No. of modules
108
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Inverters
Fronius
Client
Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm is a national award-winning animal park and education centre based in Wraxall, North Somerset, 6 miles from the centre of Bristol.
The multi award-winning tourist attraction is committed to protecting the local environment and future-proofing the animal park to reduce their carbon impact. Over the years, the zoo has won numerous sustainability awards and holds Gold in the internationally recognised Green Tourism Business Scheme.
As a sustainable and green business, the zoo is dedicated to generating as much of their own energy as possible, and to date almost half of their energy comes from renewable resources.
With high electricity demand during the day, zoos are an ideal match for renewable energy and solar panel installations. On top of the electricity needed to power their visitor attractions, café and veterinary department, a typical zoo consumes a vast amount of energy for lighting and heating their animal enclosures. Whilst a zoo can’t turn off the heating for their reptile enclosure for example, they can ensure the energy used is as clean, economical and sustainable as possible.
Task
The zoo contacted Solarsense for advice whilst exploring solar as a way to further reduce their carbon impact. Their decision to install more solar panels was fast tracked, once it became clear that the electricity supply in one area of the zoo was becoming insufficient for their daytime demand. In order to match this increased demand, a bigger transformer and cable from the mains supply would have to be installed, at a cost of nearly half of the price to install a new solar PV system.
The new 108-panel solar PV system installed for Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm was split across three animal enclosures; the tiger house, tapir house and tortoise house. The combined system will generate more than 30,000kW hours of free, clean electricity whilst avoiding a further 18,236kg of carbon emissions each year.
A specialist team from Solarsense installed the 29.16kWp solar PV system in less than a week with minimal disruption to the busy tourist attraction. As well as improving the zoo’s sustainability credentials and reducing their running costs, the new solar panel arrays are visible on-site and coincide with their aim to educate their visitors in the importance of green tourism and teach the next generation to become more sustainable and care for the natural world.
Technologies installed
- Solar PV Panels
FROM THE CLIENT
Solarsense proved excellent providers and fitted the three arrays on our tiger house, tapir house and giant tortoise house, quickly and efficiently. Our own electrician found them professional to deal with.
Anthony Bush Owner and CEO, Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm
