As Earth Day is approaching, the Walt Disney World Resort has made an important step forward in its long history of dedication to the environment. In association with the Reedy Creek Improvement District and Origis Energy USA, a solar development company, the resort is developing a new 270-acre, 50-megawatt solar facility that is expected to be operational by the end of the year.
The new solar facility will have the capability of producing renewable energy for two of the four theme parks located in Central Florida. This is one of the largest on-site renewable energy investments made by a destination resort of its kind.
Clean Energy at Commercial Scale
The new solar facility will include almost 500,000 solar panels and will help reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases by more than 57,000 tons per year, or the equivalent of removing 9,300 cars from the road annually. Such projects demonstrate the importance of commercial solutions in assisting large companies in the fight to reduce emissions while continuing to provide reliable power.
To continue to improve the reliability of the power provided, such projects are now often assisted by the use of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) to help store the excess solar power during the peak hours of production and use it during the peak hours of usage.
Supporting Long-Term Sustainability Goals
This move is in line with the company’s broader environmental goals and objectives, such as the aim to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent compared to 2012 levels. In addition to reducing emissions, large-scale solar projects can also be utilized for the generation of carbon credits, which can be used to offset emissions and fund other sustainability projects.
The new plant will be located near Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Construction of the plant is currently in full swing, with Origis Energy delivering the first solar panels to the site.
Building on Existing Renewable Infrastructure
This new addition is in addition to Disney’s previously completed five-megawatt solar plant near Epcot, developed in partnership with the Reedy Creek Improvement District and Duke Energy. During peak sunlight hours, both solar plants combined can now power a total of 25 percent of the Walt Disney World Resort’s energy requirements, which is a testament to how well-designed renewable energy infrastructure can be expanded over time.
In order for such large-scale systems to function well over the long term, professional Operations & Maintenance (O&M) services are a crucial component of projects of this magnitude.
Environmental Impact Beyond Energy
The sustainability work at Disney goes far beyond the realm of power production. Cast members from Disney’s Animals, Science and Environment, and Horticulture departments are actively engaged in planning the solar site to be pollinator-friendly, incorporating native wildflowers and vegetation to support butterflies, bees, and other key species.
This effort is very much in line with the Disney Conservation Fund and its Reverse the Decline initiative, which is dedicated to protecting and restoring populations of threatened species, such as butterflies.