Bristol Zoo has covered the top of its Bug World building with 120 solar panels.

It’s the third solar power system at the zoo gardens and will generate more than 22,645 units of electricity a year.

The panels cover an area the size of three squash courts and should cut the zoo’s carbon footprint by 11.9 tonnes of carbon emissions each year.

Tim Wilson, Director of Estates for the conservation and education charity said today: “We use a lot of electricity to light the indoor enclosures, operate the pumps in the aquarium and to keep dozens of heat lamps for the reptiles, for instance.”

He added: “We cannot turn down the thermostat to save energy but we can be as sustainable as possible and this new solar system will achieve that. It makes environmental sense and it makes financial sense – it is a success story all round.”

Stephen Barrett, director of Solarsense which installed the panels said: “This solar installation provides a simple long-term solution to on-site energy generation, protecting the Zoo from rising energy prices and helping to further reduce its carbon footprint.”

London Zoo recently signed up to an energy saving scheme while one French zoo uses panda and elephant poo to heat enclosures.