Perpetum Energy is constructing a 20 MW solar carport, touted the world's largest, at a new parking area of Pairi Daiza zoo in Brugelette, Belgium. On completion, it will become the ‘first zoo in the world’ to fully cover its consumption with onsite produced clean energy.(Photo Credit: Pairi Daiza/Twitter)

Belgian clean power company Perpetum Energy has begun the construction of what it calls as the ‘world’s largest solar carport’ with 20 MW (DC) capacity. Project location is Pairi Daiza zoo in the country’s Brugelette region. On completion of the project it will become the ‘first zoo in the world’ to fully cover its consumption with onsite produced clean energy.

A total of 62,750 PV panels will be deployed atop the new car park to generate 20,000 MWh annually. Green4Power, an investment vehicle of Perpetum Energy (30%) and insurance company Integrale (70%), will own and finance the project. Integrale is co-financing the project.

Pairi Daiza will purchase solar power generated from the investment vehicle under a power purchase agreement (PPA). Excess electricity generated may be used to power electric vehicles of the visitors to the park and fed into the grid. Construction on the project is scheduled to begin in September 2019 and end in February 2020.