Perth Zoo has completed its jumbo-sized solar panel installation - stretching partly across its elephant enclosure - making it the city's largest single source of sun power.
A new 102m "solar pergola" was unveiled today, completing the $2.7 million clean-energy project that began last year with the installation of 303 solar panels on eight zoo structures.
They include the elephant barn, reptile display, retail shop, maintenance and administrative buildings.
A total of 755 solar panels now adorn the zoo, with the potential to generate about a third of its energy needs - 370,000kW hours a year - saving the popular tourist attraction about $100,000 a year.
The installation was jointly funded by the state and federal governments as part of the nation's $94 million Solar Cities program.
While the steel-framed solar pergola is the centrepiece of the Perth Zoo project, it also doubles as a bus shelter, running along the northern perimeter road and propping up 452 solar panels with a power rating of 145kW.
The entire system is rated at 237kW, making it the largest single solar generator in Perth - the world's sunniest capital city, with an average eight hours sunshine a day over the entire year.
Perth Zoo hosts about 610,00 visitors a year.
