Disneyland Paris has unveiled plans to switch-on one of the largest solar canopies in Europe, over the European resort’s main guest parking lot, by 2023.
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Built by Axpo-owned Urbasolar through a co-investment with Disneyland Paris, the PV array, which covers 17 hectares, will supply 17% of the resort’s electricity consumption, saving greenhouse gas emissions of some 750 tons per year.
“Environmental innovation and stewardship are a tradition that began with Walt Disney himself, and this ambitious solar power project is the latest in our commitment to the environment at Disneyland Paris,” said Natacha Rafalski, the resort’s president.
“It is our responsibility as a business and tourist destination to contribute to the long-term sustainability of our resort and the region through environmentally responsible practices.”
A section of the canopy, which will generate 31GWh a year, will light up at night with a stylised Mickey Mouse head logo, visible from the sky.
French PV developer Urbasolar currently operates solar plants with a total capacity of 350MW and has an in-development pipeline of 1.7GW.
The International Energy Agency sees solar power is set to become the main engine of the transition toward a low-carbon global energy system by 2050.
