Fota Wildlife Park Cork

Fota Wildlife Park is home to 21 species of captive birds (approximately 168 birds in total). It is also home to over 100 species of animals (almost 700 animals in total) and 75 of these animal species are at risk of extinction. It is a conservation charity and is part of the Zoological Society of Ireland, located on 100 acres at Fota Island 10km east of Cork City.

From the PVGEN perspective, all large solar systems are complex, installing a state-of-the-art solar system consisting of 538 solar panels at a working wildlife park without disrupting operations, visitors, or the tranquillity of the animals was even more complex. The PVGEN team had to ensure that everything was planned with extreme precision.

PVGEN were contracted to design, install and commission a 239kWp PV system with 90kWh battery on 6 Trapezoidal roofs for Fota Wildlife Park. The project used 538 Tier 1 A-fire rating Bauer Glass/Glass bifacial 445w panels, four Huawei inverters and the G10 panels provided by Powerflow.

The installation of the main equipment was completed in under 3 weeks. The install team included 3 mechanical installers and 3 electricians, at peak.

Edge protection and scaffolding was erected in stages as to minimise disruption to ongoing day to day business.

As certain stages of the panel install were completed, scaffolding was taken down and re-erected in front of scaffolders keeping scaffold onsite to a minimum to avoid disruption.

The electrical shutdowns, which were required for the invasive electrical survey and final grid connection terminations, were carefully planned in conjunction with staff and management to avoid disruption.

The design team at PVGEN expertly mapped out the installation to ensure maximum coverage taking sun direction and other factors into consideration.

With many species in its care increasingly vulnerable to climate change and habitat loss, Fota Wildlife Park has made sustainability a cornerstone of its operations. Significant moves toward carbon neutrality include this solar project, in which PVGEN installed 1,112 m² of solar panels across key areas.

Looking ahead, the solar photovoltaic installation represents not only a significant environmental achievement but a long-term investment in energy resilience, operational efficiency and sustainable hospitality. It demonstrates how a working wildlife park can successfully integrate renewable energy into its operations while maintaining exceptional guest standards, making Fota Wildlife Park a strong example of best practice within Ireland’s tourism and hospitality sector.

Fota Wildlife Park are dedicated to protecting and conserving wildlife. And to do this, they must do everything they can to protect the habitats globally. At Fota Wildlife Park, as a conservation charity, they treat sustainability as a core principle, guiding every aspect of their operations. One of the most impactful developments this year has been their partnership with PVGEN and project co-funded by the Office of Public Works who have helped them to install over 1,100 square meters of solar PV panels.

These panels now generate renewable energy for their administration buildings, entrance kiosk, stew veneer shop, the education, conservation and research center as well as their giraffe house. This investment significantly reduces their reliance on fossil fuels and complements a range of other sustainable features. they’ve implemented like rainwater harvesting, recycled building materials, and passive building systems. This move not only lowers emissions, but also cuts out noise and improves air quality within their animal zones. A win for the environment, their staff, and animal welfare.

Fota Wildlife Park have also just completed an upgrade of the giraffe house, which includes a new HVAC system, insulated cladding, and improved natural lighting and ventilation. These enhancements will maintain a stable indoor climate year-round while using far less energy. Every aspect of their sustainability strategy works in tandem from sustainable energy generation with PVGN to the efficient use of energy within their facilities. And beyond energy, they are taking a circular approach.

The team at Fota Wildlife Park compost animal waste into natural fertilizer and reuse wood mulch and have phased out single-use plastic bottles by providing visitor refill stations. Working with forward-thinking companies like PVEN who share their commitment to a more sustainable future is essential to their mission. Wildlife conservation and sustainability go hand in hand to conserve species in the wild and to protect their habitats.

The Fota Wildlife Park team need to ensure that their actions at the park are contributing positively to combat climate change. This is conservation and sustainability in action and they invite their 430,000 annual visitors to take inspiration from their sustainability journey and consider how they might incorporate renewable energy solutions in their own lives. They’re creating a brighter, more sustainable future for wildlife and for all of us.