Energy saving measures in water parks, whether newly created or existing, are necessary for the sustainability of the facilities and care for the environment, as well as for the reduction of increasingly burdensome energy costs. In fact, electricity is one of their main energy consumptions. Therefore, implementing solutions that enable self-sufficiency in electricity, is a good way to reduce these costs.
Disney, one of the leaders in the entertainment industry, has recently announced plans to develop two new solar plants with a capacity of 75 MW. The aim of the initiative is to cover up to 40% of its electricity needs. In addition to these interventions, others are also planned:Â
- Installation of 4000 solar panels on Castaway Cay, a private island in the Bahamas, with the aim of providing 70% of the electricity supply.
- Installation of solar pergolas at Disneyland Paris.
- Installation of 5000 solar panels at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort.
Similar measures are taken by other relevant players. For example, Six Flags Great Adventure (USA) is planning a 23.5 MW photovoltaic energy installation; Delfi Planet (France), Greenwood Forest Park (UK) or PortAventura (Spain) are planning to achieve a third of their electricity consumption with renewable energies.
The ever-improving performance of the collection equipment, with light and flexible materials such as ETFE, which facilitates installation on almost any existing surface without increasing its weight, also contributes to this implementation.
By Raúl Soriano, senior modeller in the Architecture Department of Amusement Logic
