How many buildings have a solar system?

As a zoological facility with the largest solar arrays in the southern hemisphere, Australia Zoo is committed to reducing our carbon footprint on the planet, building a better and more sustainable world for our fauna and flora, and for future generations.

At Australia Zoo, the world-famous Crocoseum, which seats 5,000 people and facilitates the Wildlife Warriors show daily, and the Crikey Café, both have solar power (638kW system). The 1,800 solar panels were installed on the Crocoseum roof in 2018.

The 24-hour Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital, which is a specialised facility to treat sick, injured and orphaned native wildlife, had a 99kW solar power system installed in 2020. 

It has 115 solar panels, heat pumps for hot water, and three Tesla battery systems. The rooftop solar panels power electricity and the pumps for the hot water. And the battery system stores power to be used overnight.

On average, Australia Zoo’s Crocoseum generates between 700 MWh and 900 MWh of electricity per year – the equivalent to around 49 homes’ energy use for a whole year. 

The solar panel and invertor system creates enough electricity to power more than a third of Australia Zoo’s total energy requirements.

The Wildlife Hospital solar system generates around 125 MWh of electricity, producing more than 50% of the facility’s required energy.

What reduction in emissions has the zoo experienced? 

Between the Zoo and our Wildlife Hospital we save 1,625 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year, which is equivalent to 37,600 trees being planted in a year. This also equates to a saving of approximately $165,000 per year.



Are there any other benefits?

Installing solar and battery power systems at the Zoo aligns with our commitment to making clever and sustainable choices to protect the environment. 

As Australia’s most solar-powered zoological facility, we are proud to be leading this initiative – not only does it reduce our carbon footprint it benefits the 750,000 guests who visit the Zoo each year by reducing heat under the roof of the Crocoseum and Crikey Café, by an average of two degrees.

What kind of equipment is being powered in the Wildlife Hospital?

The Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital operates 24/7, treating thousands of wild animals that are admitted each year. The areas within the Wildlife Hospital which use energy are the x-ray machine, lighting, washing and drying machines, autoclave, air-conditioning, heaters and heat pumps for hot water. 

The Wildlife Hospital's recently opened Perry MacFarlane Intensive Care Ward has a temperature controlled hyperbaric chamber for treating patients suffering from burns, which also utilises energy. 

The Intensive Care Ward was named by actor and producer Seth MacFarlane in honour of his mother and was built after witnessing the 2019-2020 bushfire season that affected the wildlife population on an unprecedented scale.  

There was an outpour of support from passionate Wildlife Warriors, including RACQ who helped fundraise for the facility, helping us provide a lifeline to our native fauna and giving them a second chance in the wild.