Hellabrunn Zoo will install a solar photovoltaic system on the roof of its main office building and is sponsored by Stadtsparkasse München.
As part of its commitment to increase its use of renewable energy, Hellabrunn Zoo will install a solar photovoltaic system on the roof of its main office building during planned renovation work in 2024. The project, which is sponsored by Stadtsparkasse München, has also identified other suitable locations, such as the roofs of the fodder storage and workshop, for subsequent solar panel installation.
Visitors to Hellabrunn Zoo will notice improvements to the animal houses in recent years thanks to extensive renovation work. The current revamping of the Jungle World is an example of the ongoing modernisation at the animal park. But while some structural upgrades are immediately apparent, other important improvements such as the shift towards renewable energy are less conspicuous. As part of its commitment to generate renewable energy on site, Hellabrunn Zoo will install a solar panel array on the roof of its main office building during planned renovation work this year. The electricity generated from this system - around 20.8 KWp (kilowatt-peak) - will be fed into a closed circuit and distributed throughout the zoo.
“Sustainable construction and renovation invariably involve increased costs. I would therefore like to thank our long-standing sponsor, Stadtsparkasse München, for generously supporting our project to generate electricity from renewable energy,” said zoo director Rasem Baban. “Given the current energy situation and constantly rising costs, the installation of this photovoltaic system will also help us better adapt to meet the financial challenges ahead.”
The photovoltaic system planned for the roof of the main office building is scheduled to be installed and put into operation in 2024. A structural survey was conducted of all the roofs on the zoo grounds, which also identified the roofs of the fodder storage and the workshop as suitable for installing a photovoltaic system. Solar panels will subsequently be installed these roofs.
“We are doing a lot ourselves to become climate neutral and sustainable. That’s why we are happy to support Hellabrunn Zoo in its investment for generating renewable energy,” said Sabine Schölzel, board member of Stadtsparkasse München. The bank has a close partnership with Hellabrunn Zoo that extends more than 50 years.
To fulfil its renewable energy objective, beginning this year all buildings at Hellabrunn Zoo with a very high energy consumption, such as warm animal houses, will be supplied with CO2-neutral geothermal energy from the municipal utilities company Stadtwerke München‘s geothermal power plant.