Six Flags Magic Mountain Powers Up With California's Biggest Solar Carport

Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California, has flipped the switch on a massive solar carport project that now ranks as the largest in California and among the biggest single-site commercial installations of its kind in the United States. The 12.37-megawatt (MW) array was developed with Solar Optimum, using 22,908 bifacial RECOM panels spread across 36 canopy structures. Because bifacial panels capture light from both sides — including reflections off the pavement — the setup squeezes more electricity out of the same footprint.

The canopies cover roughly 637,000 square feet and shade around 4,315 parking spots, split between 3,544 guest spaces and 771 employee spaces. For visitors returning to a vehicle after a long, hot day in the park, the shade is a welcome bonus. The project also adds 109 EV charging connectors across both the guest and employee lots, giving electric vehicle drivers a reason to top up while they ride the coasters.

A 2 MW/8 MWh battery system stores excess generation for later use, which at its rated output translates to about four hours of discharge. Six Flags expects the panels to produce roughly 20.8 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) annually — enough to offset the yearly electricity consumption of both Magic Mountain and the adjacent Hurricane Harbor Los Angeles water park. The parks remain tied to Southern California Edison’s grid, drawing power when on-site generation lags and exporting surplus when demand and storage are already covered. The long-term goal is to offset 100% of annual electricity use.

Construction broke ground on November 1, 2023, with Solar Optimum and DSD Renewables. Magic Mountain follows earlier solar deployments at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Northern California and Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey. By building above land already dedicated to parking, the project lets the same space serve three purposes at once: storing cars, providing shade, and generating clean electricity.

The Magic Mountain project is part of a broader trend among large commercial properties — theme parks, stadiums, and distribution centers — to turn underused parking lots into power plants. California’s aggressive renewable energy targets and volatile utility rates have made such investments increasingly attractive, especially when paired with battery storage that can shave peak demand charges. For Six Flags, the installation cuts operating costs and gives EV-driving guests a tangible reason to visit.

With more than 20 million kWh expected each year and a battery system already in place, Magic Mountain shows how a parking lot can quietly become one of the park’s hardest-working assets. As utilities and businesses look for ways to decarbonize without sacrificing land, solar carports like this one may become a standard feature of large venues — not just an experiment.