Six Flags Magic Mountain, in partnership with Solar Optimum and DSD Renewables, has officially broken ground on a new 12.37 MW solar carport and energy storage system to offset 100% of its energy usage with solar power. The project marks the third solar installation for Six Flags, and, according to the company, it will be the largest single-site commercial renewable energy project in California.
“We’re thrilled to be breaking ground on this monumental project and taking the next step towards a cleaner, greener future,” said Six Flags Magic Mountain Interim Park President Jeff Harris. “We’re continuing to make advancements towards improving and protecting the environment, and are honored to be industry leaders, paving the way for other theme park companies around the world."
The 637,000 sq ft solar carport will be built over the main guest and team member parking lots, covering more than 4,300 parking spaces. In total, the carport is projected to produce 20.8 million kWh of energy annually, equivalent to powering more than 2,800 homes, while offsetting carbon dioxide equivalents each year comparable to taking more than 3,000 cars off the road.
Over its 25-year life, the solar carport will produce 517.89 million kWh of energy, which will offset greenhouse gas energy consumption equivalent to 911 million miles driven by gas-powered cars.
“We are excited to break ground on this solar-plus-storage project at Six Flags Magic Mountain. Solar canopies have always been an excellent use of otherwise underutilized space, and this site, with its wide-open parking lots, provides the perfect canvas to build on,” said Danielle Fidel, Senior Director, Developer Network at DSD.
To support its solar energy efforts, Six Flags Magic Mountain will install a battery storage system capable of producing nearly 2 MW of power with up to 8 MWh of capacity that can be deployed daily. The company will also deploy approximately 30 electric vehicle charging spaces in the guest parking lot.
