Solar Power Comes to the San Diego Zoo

Solar San Diego sustainability initiatives this week unveiled a solar-powered vehicle (EV) charging station at the San Diego Zoo. Now environmentally-cautious citizens can visit the Zoo guilt-free, in addition to reducing their gas consumption, helping CA reduce its dependence on fossil fuels, and reduce green house gas emissions that contribute to global warming.

Solar energy is received in the form of sunlight, which when converted into electricity becomes solar power. Photovoltaic solar panels can harness solar energy from sunlight and make it possible to convert solar energy to solar power. Solar power can then be used for any residential, industrial, and commercial purpose - including charging an EV.

The San Diego Gas & Electric’s sustainable communities program initiated their project to supply the San Diego Zoo’s parking lot with solar panels by installing enough solar panels to supply five EV charging stations powered by ten photovoltaic canopies.

In total, the San Diego Zoo parking lot solar panels are projected to provide about 90 kilowatts of energy -- enough energy to supply up to sixty residential homes. In addition, the local power grid utilities will purchase any surplus electricity generated, which can then be used for the local community.

A common criticism of solar panels is that they are only efficient and cost-effective when their is direct sunlight. In response, the San Diego Zoo decided to integrate batteries to store the energy generated by the solar panels so that the solar station in the parking lot can provide electricity to EVs and the local grid even if the sun has set or a certain day is overcast. 

Renewable energy sources, such as solar power, provide visitors and citizens a more efficient way to travel around the state. In addition to the electricity generated, the panels will also provide shade for up to fifty vehicles, both EV and non, which is another energy-saving technique. 

The project dovetails with the Zoo’s broader goal of encouraging “the application of sustainable design driven by science and the natural world.” Educational tools were placed at the solar panel site as well as online. The San Diego Zoo is hoping that its project can become a model for other businesses to follow.