Siemens’ Energy Solutions Transform Theme Park Operations

Although theme parks are not one of the most featured concepts here at Energy Digital, their reliance on energy and subsequent striving for energy efficiency should not be overlooked.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), amusement parks around the world consumed around 27.4 billion kWh of electricity in 2021 alone.

The US tops the list of energy hungry theme park nations, with China, Japan and the UK following behind.

In line with global shifts toward sustainability, theme parks are increasingly focusing on energy efficiency to reduce operational costs and minimise their environmental impact.

One technology giant contributing to this cause is Siemens, which is helping Dutch theme park Toverland enhance its sustainability and efficiency.

Siemens and Toverland: Setting an energy-efficiency example

In modern-day theme parks, almost nothing works anymore without power.

With this in mind, and as Toverland expanded its themed world Avalon, the park decided to ensure its new four attractions were operated as energy-efficiently and sustainably as possible.

To aid in this pursuit, Siemens deployed its solution, SENTRON Digital, to enable safe, reliable and efficient power distribution at Toverland.

SENTRON’s wireless communication-capable devices — located near the attractions and in a power distribution room — allows the theme park to keep an eye on the energy consumption and operating costs of its new rides, intervene if necessary, reduce downtime and meet relevant sustainability and safety requirements. 

Balancing efficiency in energy-intensive environments

With it estimated that Disney theme parks’ yearly electric bill surpasses US$10bn and uses more than a billion kW of energy to power its rides — as well as the general Disney magic — it’s no secret that parks are energy-intensive.

Disney World, for example, is responsible for a staggering 16.6 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually, making it one of the most polluted places on the planet.

To maintain a balance between growth and sustainability, theme parks must adopt advanced energy management solutions that ensure efficient energy use without compromising on performance or visitor experience.

Toverland poses itself as a perfect example of how these challenges can be addressed.

With its recent expansion it faced the challenge of managing increased energy demands while ensuring reliability and sustainability, something it has overcome in partnership with Siemens.

Benefits of smart power management

The advantages of implementing smart power management solutions extend beyond just energy efficiency. For theme parks, these systems offer improved reliability, reduced downtime and enhanced safety.

• Improved reliability: SENTRON's real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance features ensure that power is consistently available, minimising disruptions to park operations
• Enhanced safety: With advanced features like arc fault detection, SENTRON helps parks meet stringent safety standards, including compliance with ISO 50001
• Energy efficiency and sustainability: By optimising energy use and reducing waste, SENTRON contributes to the park's sustainability goals

Can theme parks be carbon neutral?

Theme parks around the world are working to reduce their environmental impact. Some are even closer to that goal than some may think.

While achieving full carbon neutrality is a complex process, theme parks can take significant steps toward this goal by combining energy efficiency, renewable energy adoption, sustainable practices and carbon offsetting. 

Although there are no major theme parks yet boasting carbon neutral status, notable energy efficiency initiatives achieved by theme parks include

• Disneyland Paris: To reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 60% by 2030 and achieve zero net greenhouse gas emissions for its direct operations by 2050, Disneyland Paris has large solar canopy that covers parking areas which provides renewable energy
• SeaWorld parks in the USA: As well as being known for its wildlife conservation efforts, SeaWorld has implemented solar power, water conservation measures and recycling programmes
• Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi: Energy-efficient technologies and green building practices are at the core of Warner Bros.’ UAE site, including water conservation and a 36,000sqm solar PV rooftop 

While many theme parks are taking significant steps toward sustainability, full carbon neutrality remains a challenging goal.

However, with systems in place from technology giants like Siemens, the future of more energy-efficient facilities may not be as far off as once believed.

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