Brazil World Cup Stadiums to Be Powered by Solar Energy

April 6th, 2012 by Zachary Shahan



Nearly two years ago (wow, time flies), I wrote about transit planning that was already underway for the Brazil World Cup in 2014. I’m sure those plans are much further along now, but today there’s some exciting solar news about the upcoming World Cup. Brazil will be powering several of its stadiums to a good degree with solar power. (Not that surprising, given that Brazil intends to triple its renewable energy use by 2020.)

All 12 of Brazil’s stadiums for this event are supposed to achieve a minimum sustainability standard, and 10 out of 12 have already applied to the US Green Building Council for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) status. One of the stadiums, Mané Garrincha stadium in Brazilian capital Brasília, is seeking LEED Platinum status, which would make it the first soccer stadium in the world to achieve that.

Mané Garrincha stadium will include a roof sporting an array of solar PV panels with 2.5 MWp of capacity. Much of the time, this solar array is expected to surpass the stadium’s power needs and will feed electricity back into the grid. During pick energy consumption, it’s expected to provide the stadium with about 50% of its power needs. Yearly, the solar system is expected to save the stadium R$7 million ($3.78 million). Other stadiums will also be equipped with solar:

Maracanã stadium in Rio is supposed to sport a ring of solar panels on its roof. It may have a solar power capacity of 3.3 MWp.

The Estádio Governador Magalhães Pinto in Belo Horizonte (aka the Mineirão) will have a roof with up to 1.5 MWp of solar panels.

The Pituaçu Stadium in Salvador will feature a 403-kWp PV solar system on its roof. (World Cup matches won’t actually be played at this stadium, but it will host training sessions.)

The Pernambuco Arena in Recife will include solar heating for changing rooms, toilets and kitchens.

Other stadiums are expected to reveal solar energy plans soon, as well. So far, at least 7 of the stadiums are committed to using solar to some extent.

“In Brazil in 2014 the sustainability of the tournament will be the best so far achieved, incorporating new approaches to this issue,” Claudio Langone, co-ordinator of the Chamber of the Environment and Sustainability for the 2014 World Cup, said.

Yingli, which drew a lot of eyes and talk in 2010 as the first Chinese and the first clean energy company to sponsor a World Cup (it was a sponsor at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa), has signed up to be a sponsor in Brazil as well (seems the marketing investment paid off), and there’s word that it is in confidential talks regarding installations at Brazil’s soon-to-be-solar-powered stadiums.

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Source: Renewable Energy World









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