London Stadium is on track to become one of the most environmentally-friendly sports and concert venues globally as work begins on installing 6,500 square metres of solar membrane panels.
This green initiative, known as the LLDC Solar Membrane Project, is the first to receive funding from the £500 million Mayor of London’s Green Finance Fund, which provides low-cost financing to help public sector bodies accelerate the city’s decarbonisation and transition to Net Zero.
The £4.35 million project will enable the stadium to cut over 200 tonnes of carbon emissions annually and generate enough energy to power all of its major events. The solar energy produced is expected to provide 850,000 kWh per year, which will cover the power needs for approximately 20 football matches, four concerts, two MLB games, and one international athletics event.
This initiative is part of a broader effort to reduce energy costs and carbon emissions at London Stadium. In addition to the solar panels, energy-saving measures include LED lighting upgrades, improvements to chillers and air handling systems, and energy-efficient kiosks. Stadium staff are also being encouraged to adopt energy-saving practices. These combined efforts will reduce the stadium’s energy consumption by 1.9 million kWh by March 2025, with the solar panels expected to further reduce usage by 0.8 million kWh annually, cutting electricity costs by 10%-15%.
By 2026, the stadium will have reduced its reliance on the national grid by 3 million kWh, lowering its annual energy draw from 11.5 million kWh to 8.5 million.
Ameresco, a leading energy service company specialising in cleantech and renewable energy infrastructure, has been awarded the contract to install, operate, and maintain the solar membrane panels. The stadium’s roof design has been adapted by Populous, the original architect of the venue for the 2012 Olympics, to accommodate the lightweight thin-film photovoltaic (PV) panels while ensuring compliance with fire regulations.
The installation, set for completion by summer 2025, will make London Stadium the Premier League ground with the largest solar array, positioning it as a leader in sustainability for major sporting and entertainment events.
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