Belgium’s Pairi Daiza wildlife park is now home to the world’s largest wooden solar carport, built by Perpetum Energy. The 40 MW carport represents a total investment of €40 million.
The World’s Largest Wooden Solar Carport
Pairi Daiza, a prominent wildlife park in Belgium, has unveiled the world’s largest wooden solar carport, developed by Belgian energy company Perpetum Energy. Located in Brugelette, Hainaut, the privately owned zoo and botanical garden now features a 40 MW solar installation. This expansive renewable energy project required an investment of €40 million ($43 million), a substantial commitment to sustainability and innovative energy solutions.
Largest Wooden Solar Carport
Grégoire Dewandeleer, general manager of Perpetum Energy, explained that the solar power plant in Pairi Daiza’s parking lot is the world’s largest photovoltaic carport made of wood. He added that Pairi Daiza was keen on using 100% natural and renewable materials, working with partner Préfabois to minimize raw material waste and reduce gray energy consumption.
The carport is built with durable, class-4 Douglas fir sourced from the Ardennes and certified by PEFC standards for sustainable forest management. Covering 200,000 square meters, the €40 million project includes 93,786 photovoltaic panels. These panels—a mix of Chinese Longi and Canadian Solar TOPCon bi-facial models—produce a combined 40 MWp of power and generate 39,800 MWh of green energy annually, enough to power 11,350 homes.
Exporting Solar Energy Surplus to the Grid
Supporting the second phase of the photovoltaic shade house and meeting the park’s substantial electricity needs required modifying the main control cabin. Grégoire Dewandeleer remarked on the process: “We had to alter the photovoltaic shade house’s imposing head cabin in order to guarantee the operation of the second phase and meet the park’s substantial electrical needs. The numerous circuit breaker cells were modified, the wiring was strengthened, and the current transformers (CTs) were swapped out for stronger ones. Three days to finish a challenge!”
Financed through a third-party investment by the Green4Power SA fund and co-owned by Perpetum and Socofe, the operation transforms Pairi Daiza into a significant green energy provider. The zoo consumes a portion of the solar-generated electricity and exports the surplus to the grid. This surplus is expected to decrease, however, once electric-vehicle charging stations are installed under the shade houses.
Wooden Solar Carports: A Green Energy Solution
The drive toward sustainable energy has spurred innovations like the wooden solar carport. These structures combine vehicle shelter with solar energy generation, using durable wooden frameworks to support rooftop solar panels. They offer protection from the weather while producing clean, renewable electricity for homes and businesses.
Wooden solar carports offer significant environmental benefits, using solar power to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and cut greenhouse gas emissions. By using sustainably sourced wood, they also promote responsible forestry practices and minimize their carbon footprint. These versatile structures are well-suited for commercial and public spaces, offering shaded parking while generating renewable energy.
Investing in a wooden solar carport also brings substantial long-term economic benefits. The electricity generated can offset energy costs, leading to significant savings over time. In many regions, incentives like tax credits or grants make these carports an even more financially attractive investment for businesses and homeowners alike.
The unveiling of Belgium’s largest wooden solar carport at Pairi Daiza marks a major milestone in sustainable energy innovation. With its vast capacity and reliance on natural materials, the project not only reinforces the wildlife park’s commitment to environmental stewardship but also sets a powerful precedent for integrating renewable energy solutions into public spaces.
