01.05.2024

Disneyland Paris hosts the largest solar park in Europe

The Disneyland Paris parking lot is equipped with photovoltaic panels, which have created the largest solar plant in Europe with a capacity of 36,1 MWp, renewablesnow.com writes.

The car park of the world's most famous theme park is covered in 82 photovoltaic panels, which are now fully operational, says French solar developer and installer Urbasolar.

The unit of Swiss Axpo Holding AG was hired to design and build the plant and is also a co-investor in the project. Construction works started in 2020, and the solar canopy installation took about three years to install.

The parking lot has 11 parking spaces

The car park has 11 parking spaces for cars and motorbikes and buses covered by over 200 solar panels.

The site's overall production is estimated at 36 GWh per year and will be enough to meet around 17% of the theme park's current electricity demand, which equates to a city of 17.

The project is implemented in support of Disneyland Paris' climate change adaptation plan, which aims to mitigate the effects of the heat island in the visitor car park.

Disneyland Paris Environmental Goals

In recent years, Disneyland Paris has focused on emissions, water, waste, materials and sustainable construction. Several large-scale projects are helping the resort reach its goals. In addition to the largest solar battery in Europe, Disneyland Paris announced that in the coming months it will be installed thermo-cooling pump, which will allow the resort to significantly reduce its carbon footprint.

Once the pump is fully installed, it will contribute to reducing the resort's natural gas consumption by 14% and its heating needs – currently provided by the combined use of geothermal energy and natural gas – by 10%. This state-of-the-art machine will also make it possible to reduce the consumption of recycled water provided by the resort's treatment plant by approximately 30 cubic meters. This saved water will be used to care for green areas and clean paths.

To help The Walt Disney Company achieve its 2030 environmental goals, the resort has adopted a comprehensive strategy that focuses on four main priorities: implementing energy-saving measures, upgrading existing equipment to optimize energy performance, electrifying processes, powered by fossil fuels and implementing large-scale projects that pave the way for the use of renewable energy, such as the recent construction of a solar canopy installation in the guest car park.

Among other significant actions taken by Disneyland Paris to protect the planet, the resort also uses geothermal energy, which provides up to 18% of the heating needs of Disneyland Park, Walt Disney Studios Park and the Disneyland Hotel.