The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) and SolarPower Europe have partnered to advance sustainability in European football through solar energy.
The collaboration focuses on leveraging renewable energy, specifically solar power, to help UEFA, national football associations, and football clubs reduce their carbon footprints and contribute to a greener, more sustainable future for the sport, SolarPower Europe and UEFA said.
According to Michele Uva, UEFA’s Director of Social & Environmental Sustainability, the two organizations aim to enhance sustainable football infrastructure by advancing renewable energy implementation and best practices. “This partnership brings valuable expertise to a constantly evolving area of our work,” he noted.
Solar and football are a perfect match
“Solar and football already energise communities and nations across Europe – they’re a perfect match. We’re proud to take a natural step in working with UEFA to support their 2030 sustainability goals,” SolarPower Europe CEO Walburga Hemetsberger underlined.
Walburga Hemetsberger and Michele Uva (photo: SolarPower Europe)
As part of a cooperation agreement, the partnership will focus on expanding solar power use, facilitating power purchase agreements (PPAs) for long-term renewable energy supply, and hosting a webinar in 2025 to inform national football associations about solar energy and storage options.
The deal for the largest solar power plant in a football stadium was signed
Sports offer a great opportunity for applying solar technologies, Robert Cathcart wrote in an op-ed for Balkan Green Energy News. Stadiums are often ideal for solar installations, he added.
Interestingly, the deal for the largest solar power plant in a football stadium was signed yesterday.
Photovoltaic module manufacturer JA Solar and football club Borussia Dortmund have joined forces for the installation of a new PV system on the roof of Signal Iduna Park. The outcome would be the world’s largest PV system on a stadium roof.
The 4.2 MW solar power plant that Turkey’s energy company Enerjisa Enerji installed on the roof of Galatasaray’s stadium in Istanbul won the Guinness World Records title in 2022.
