Solar Carport Completed at Belgian Zoo Uses Sustainable Materials to Reduce Environmental Impact

Perpetum Energy, a Belgian energy company, has completed the construction of a 40 MW solar carport at Pairi Daiza, a privately owned zoo and botanical garden located in Hainaut, Belgium. The total investment for this project reached €40 million ($43 million). This solar carport is the largest of its kind in the world and is made of wood, using sustainable materials to reduce environmental impact.

The carport is constructed from durable Douglas fir sourced from the Ardennes and is certified according to sustainable forest management standards. The project spans 200,000 square meters and includes 93,786 solar panels from manufacturers Longi and Canadian Solar. To ensure the efficient operation of the solar carport, modifications were made to the park’s existing infrastructure. The park will use part of the solar electricity generated for its own needs and provide surplus power to the grid. This surplus power is expected to decrease as the park installs electric vehicle charging stations under the solar carport.

The financing for this project was done through third-party investment by the Green4Power SA fund and is co-owned by Perpetum and Socofe. The completion of this solar carport project not only provides green energy for Pairi Daiza but also showcases the use of sustainable materials and renewable energy sources in large-scale projects. Grégoire Dewandeleer, general manager of Perpetum Energy stated that “Pairi Daiza was open to using natural and renewable materials for this project.” This project demonstrates how companies can work together with private organizations to create cleaner and more sustainable future.