Happy Earth Month Disney fans! Disney has been celebrating all April, and has made a new announcement regarding more solar power on the way to Walt Disney World. With two new solar facilities coming to the property, Disney plans to power 40% of their annual energy consumption!
As announced by Disney: “Walt Disney World has been basking in the glow of the Sunshine State and using solar energy for several years, and today, Walt Disney World and Reedy Creek Improvement District (RCID) are teaming up with local utility partners in Central Florida to develop two new 75MW solar facilities, which are expected to come online in approximately two years. These new solar projects add to a not-so-hidden Mickey shaped solar array, built in collaboration with RCID and Duke Energy, sharing that authentic Disney flair across 22 acres of land, as well as the massive 270-acre, 57MW solar facility built in partnership with RCID and Origis Energy USA. When combined, Walt Disney World’s total solar facilities will produce enough renewable energy to power up to 40% of its total annual energy consumption.”
That’s seriously impressive! But, of course there’s more! Disneyland Paris, Disneyland in California, Hong Kong Disneyland, Tokyo Disney, and even Disney Cruise Line’s Castaway Cay are using solar power to better the environment. Check out all the details as shared by Disney here.
Happy belated Earth Day (and Happy Anniversary to Disney’s Animal Kingdom)! Disney has been hard at work to harness the power of the sun to power parks globally. Disney has announced there is a new solar facility coming online at Castaway Cay! When completed, this new solar array will power 70% of Disney’s private island in The Bahamas. This new facility represents a larger effort by Disney to power its parks more responsibly. Globally, these solar facilities are enough to power 65,200 homes for one year, the equivalent of 8 Walt Disney World theme parks!
From a Disney Cast Member;
As we celebrate Earth Day, I wanted to share some of the amazing work being done around the world to power the magic by harnessing the sun! I am incredibly proud to share that we’re continuing to make tremendous steps towards reducing our carbon footprint at our global parks and resorts with new solar facilities coming online around the world.
While using solar energy may not be a new concept, we are pushing the boundaries in our unique Disney way, including solar panels atop our most famous attractions at Disneyland Resort and Hong Kong Disneyland Resort and a solar farm in the shape of Mickey Mouse at Walt Disney World Resort. And coming soon are solar canopies at Disneyland Paris that will provide shelter for 9,500 guest vehicles, a facility that will power ~70% of Castaway Cay, Disney Cruise Line’s private island in The Bahamas, and two colossal solar facilities coming to Central Florida. To put all of this into perspective our Disney Parks, Experiences and Products solar portfolio around the world can produce enough energy to power eight Magic Kingdom Parks at Walt Disney World Resort.
Pretty cool, right? Through the innovative use of space, and with a touch of Disney magic, we are using the sun to conserve energy and power up in a responsible manner. Let’s take a tour around the world to see our solar arrays in action.
Powering ~70% of the island’s power, Disney Cruise Line will soon bring online 4,320 solar panels at Castaway Cay.
Walt Disney World has been basking in the glow of the Sunshine State and using solar energy for several years, and today, Walt Disney World and Reedy Creek Improvement District (RCID) are teaming up with local utility partners in Central Florida to develop two new 75MW solar facilities, which are expected to come online in approximately two years.
These new solar projects add to a not-so-hidden Mickey shaped solar array, built in collaboration with RCID and Duke Energy, sharing that authentic Disney flair across 22 acres of land, as well as the massive 270-acre, 57MW solar facility built in partnership with RCID and Origis Energy USA. When combined, Walt Disney World’s total solar facilities will produce enough renewable energy to power up to 40% of its total annual energy consumption.
Disneyland Paris is setting the standard for solar energy in Europe – working on one of the largest solar canopy plants in collaboration with Urbasolar. These solar canopies will provide practical and innovative use of 67,500 solar panels sitting atop an outdoor guest parking lot.
Hong Kong Disneyland is also setting an example locally, serving as home to the single largest solar panel site in Hong Kong. Across 20 attractions and buildings, the park has installed over 5,000 solar panels.
Soaking up the California sunshine, atop the Radiator Springs Racers attraction sits 1,400 solar panels that help power the magic at Disneyland Resort.
And solar power energizes Tokyo Disney Resort, generating enough power to fuel the iconic Dreamlights Parade with solar panels installed at eight backstage locations across the resort.
Since 2009, Disney has operated under a long-term vision to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions, and we’re just getting started. Our new set of ambitions goals commit us to achieve net zero emissions for our direct operations by 2030.
To learn more about how we help protect and celebrate the magic of nature not just during Earth Month, but all year round, be sure to tune into my Instagram handle, @DrMarkatDisney. Together, we can take better care of the world we share.
Walt Disney World has unveiled its newest and largest solar farm. At 270 acres, the site is almost twice the size of the entire Magic Kingdom.
It’s not Disney’s first trip into solar energy business.
In 2016, famous Mickey Mouse-shaped panels went up near Epcot.
The new facility is Disney’s largest solar endeavor to date and is expected to generate enough energy to power two of the four theme parks at Walt Disney World.
“Here at Disney, every day is Earth Day,” Angie Renner, Environmental Integration Director of Disney Parks told “GMA.”
“I happen to drive by this every day. My view in the morning is different from my view in the evening when I’m going home,” said Renner as the panels face east in the morning, are almost flat by noon and then turn to the west as the sun sets.
Overnight, they shift back to the east to be ready for another day. If a hurricane strikes, the panels should be able to withstand the winds by going flat, officials said.
“These projects tag onto a long legacy of environmental stewardship that started with Walt Disney,” Renner noted.
Along with the solar energy harnessed by the panels, Disney also worked with environmental and horticulture experts to ensure the new plant is a nurturing habitat for wildlife, like bees and butterflies.
“We have a really important opportunity here to make this site as pollinator-friendly as possible,” said Rachel Smith, a Conservation Programs Manager from Disney’s Animals, Science and Environment team.
