Organisers had initially hoped that all 12 of the 2014 World Cup venues would be solar powered stadiums. These exciting, large-scale solar projects represent FIFA’s long-term commitment to sustainability leadership, to reducing the environmental impact of its own operations, and to increasing the positive impact of the FIFA World Cup on society and the environment.
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.
FIFA Head of Corporate Social Responsibility Federico Addiechi was quoted
[quote_box_center]”Sustainability is one of the key tenants in our vision for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. After bringing solar power to 20 Football for Hope Centres in Africa, we are delighted that our collaboration with Yingli is continuing and is now bringing solar PV systems to football stadiums in Brazil. We hope this landmark project will be the catalyst to increase the production and use of renewable energy in the country”[/quote_box_center]Yingli, which drew a lot of eyes and talk in 2010 World Cup in South Africa as the first Chinese and the first clean energy company to sponsor a World Cup , has signed up to be a sponsor in Brazil as well , and there’s word that it had confidential talks regarding Brazil’s solar-powered stadiums.
Here are Brazil’s several stadiums which are solar powered
Mineirão Stadium
The first of several in the country to be equipped with a solar-powered roof for the FIFA World Cup. The €12.5 million (£10.7 million) project will see energy fed back into the grid rather than being used directly by the stadium. Powered by Martifer Solar, which built the rooftop PV plant as part of the Minas Solar 2014 program for CEMIG and their partners, German bank kfW and Minas Arena.
The 1.4 MW plant will offset 139.7 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year, which is sufficient energy to power more than 2700 households in Brazil on an annual basis.
The stadium at Belo Horizonte will host six games of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, including a semi-final match on 8 July. According to a recent statement from CEMIG, the 1.4 MW PV installation at Mineirão stadium is the first investment of its type, as well as being the first large-scale solar power facility in operation within the country of Brazil. Martifer Solar has been operating in Brazil since 2012, and is currently one of the largest PV players in the market
Mané Garrincha stadium
Was fitted with a 2.5MW solar array providing enough solar energy to power nearly half the stadium. Mané Garrincha stadium in Brazilian capital Brasília, was seeking LEED Platinum status, which would make it the first soccer stadium in the world to achieve that.
Will include a roof sporting 9,600 photovoltaic panels with capacity to generate 2.5 MW 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).
Pernambuco Arena
The Pernambuco Arena in Recife will include solar heating for changing rooms, toilets and kitchens. The Arena Pernambuco will be powered with clean energy from a 1MW solar power plant. The unique ground-mounted solar installation, the first solar power plant for the Brazilian state of Pernambuco, is in São Lourenço de Mata, a suburb of Recife, the regional capital. The project contains more than 3,650 high-efficiency Yingli Solar panels, which are expected to generate about 1,500MWh of clean electricity each year. Visitors can track the system’s power performance at an on-site Visitor Centre designed to promote solar energy education.
Pituaçu Stadium
The Pituaçu Stadium in Salvador will feature a 403-kWp PV solar system on its roof. (will host training sessions for participating teams during the tournament.)
Estádio do Maracanã
South America’s largest stadium may now become famous for its sustainability initiatives. With over 1,500 Yingli Solar panels installed, the solar project will produce enough electricity to power an estimated 240 homes annually, preventing the release of about 350 tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere each year. he prominent placement of the panels will bring green energy to the global stage during the final match of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil, helping to raise environmental awareness among football fans worldwide
