London Stadium is under work to become one of the world’s greenest venues, receiving 6,500 square metres of solar membrane panels
Adaptation work has already been undertaken to install the solar panels on London Stadium’s roof, supplied and installed by Ameresco.
Populous undertook the roof adaptation work, the original architects of the stadium for the 2012 Olympics.
The London Stadium required a bespoke system
The roof weight bearing had to be kept in mind, and so thin-film photovoltaic cells were chosen to keep weight down while maximising energy generation and also keep compliance with fire regulations.
The project costs £4.5m and is backed by the Mayor of London’s green finance fund. The venue is expected to save 200 tonnes of carbon emissions per year, and begin electricity generation by summer 2025, reducing the stadium’s energy use by 1.9m kWh by March.
Other energy-saving actions being taken at the stadium include installation of LED lighting, chiller and air-handling improvements, and energy saving devices for kiosks.
The stadium will reduce national grid use by 3m kWh between 2022-2026
The energy generated is expected also be enough to power 20 football matches, four concerts, two MLB games, and one international athletics event while saving the stadium £350,000 per year.
Mete Coban, London’s deputy mayor for environment and energy, said: “These solar panels will transform the London Stadium into one of the world’s greenest venues, reducing its energy consumption and running costs. The mayor’s Green Finance Fund is a fantastic opportunity for public sector bodies to lower their carbon footprint, and we encourage more organisations to take advantage of this funding.”
Graham Gilmore, chief executive of LS185, the stadium’s operator, said: “We are committed to becoming one of the most sustainable live event venues globally. This significant investment will not only cut our energy costs but, more importantly, reduce our carbon footprint. We’re proud to lead the way in tackling climate change, powering our concerts and events with energy generated right here on site.”
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