UK unveils first solar powered theme park

GreenWood Forest Park in Y Felinheli, North Wales has become the UK’s first solar powered adventure theme park.

The solar power provides the theme park’s 80% energy requirements. The 576-panel 150kW system will provide 1,700tonnes of carbon saving over a 25-year period and enable the theme park to save more than £1m ($1.5) in energy costs.

GreenWood Forest Park owner and managing director Stephen Bristow said: "GreenWood Forest Park has always taken the view that fun should not come with a heavy environmental price tag. We have previously built a medieval-style Great Hall using Welsh Oak grown within 80 miles of the park and we have used recycled slate products for car parks and paths."

A new 80 metre long water ride in the UK will be introduced next year. It will also be completely solar powered. The visitors will need to climb 12 metre tower via stairs before racing down water chutes in inflatable boats.

GreenWood Forest Park has been ranked 4th best amusement park in the UK by TripAdvisor and aims to increase its annual number of visitors to 175,000 by 2017.