The new elephant enclosure at Taronga Western Plains Zoo (TWPZ) is solar powered and uses solar hydronic under floor heating. The $4.3 million project is due to be finished before the end of the year.

The project consists of a three-stall elephant barn and two new paddocks totalling over 7500sqm. A 10kW solar powered system has been installed on the barn roof that will provide for the new facility.

The facility also uses a hydronic heating system – this is when the sun shines on solar collectors and heats a special fluid within the tubes. The fluid is then pumped into heat exchange coils in a heavily insulated storage tank. The system consists of Latento hot water storage tanks and Sunda evacuated tube solar collectors.

The heated water can also be continually pumped through the building and in pipes under the floors providing warmth for the elephants sand beds.

Gas burners will provide a backup system in the event of continual bad weather but the solar hydronics is expected to be able to generate heat and store hot water for days even in low light conditions.

“The barn has been constructed from a thermal mass concrete providing better insulation and has been designed to take advantage of natural sunlight to assist with heating and drying the barn throughout the year,” said Taronga Western Plains Zoo’s General Manager, Matthew Fuller.

“The new elephant barn also features automated louvers to allow for cross ventilation as well as hydronic solar under floor heating to heat sand beds for the elephants.”

“The two new paddocks feature deep swimming pools and shade shelters along with raised feeding stations for the elephants to enjoy.”

“As part of the redevelopment the Zoo’s two existing elephant barns were also upgraded, with a new heating system installed for the elephants during the winter months,” said Matthew.

Four new elephants are also being transferred from Sydney’s Taronga Zoo to live in the new solar powered facility and hopefully breed sometime in the future as well. Those being transferred include mothers Porntip and Thong Dee along with their male calves Pathi harn and Luk Chai.

The new elephants will be given time to adjust before being opened up to the public.