Brazil's Mineirão Stadium has become the first of the country's World Cup stadiums to be retrofitted with solar panels. Brazil is hosting the 2014 World Cup and organizers hope to install solar panels onto all 12 of the stadiums used to host games. Mineirão Stadium, built in 1965, is the first stadium to receive the eco-friendly update.
A total of $16 million was spent to install the 1.4MW solar system onto the stadium. The power gathered from the panels will be fed back into the city's grid as opposed to being used by the stadium. The next stadium in line to receive the solar update is Mané Garrincha Stadium. It is slated to receive a 2.5MW solar system that can reportedly provide enough energy to power half of the stadium.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Eco-friendly Stadium Initiatives
- With increasing concerns over global warming, it's a great opportunity for other stadiums and sports organizations to invest in eco-friendly stadium upgrades which is in line with environment preservation goals.
- Renewable Energy Adoption
- There's an opportunity for energy companies and governments to invest more in renewable energy sources, especially solar power, which will not just serve more people, but will also meet up their social responsibility goals.
- Sustainable Infrastructure Development
- Developers and builders can explore sustainable infrastructure to help reduce the country's carbon footprint, and by so doing, promote eco-friendliness, especially during events that require the use of stadium facilities.
Where This Applies
- Sports & Entertainment Industry
- Sports stadiums, arenas, and other entertainment facilities can explore the use of solar panels and other eco-friendly solutions that boost their image and give individuals and corporate partners a chance to participate in eco-friendliness.
- Clean Energy Industry
- Renewable energy companies can see this as an opportunity to invest more in solar and other renewable energy source products as a means of providing more customers with clean energy solutions.
- Construction Industry
- There's an opportunity for construction companies to look into building eco-friendly stadiums and facilities that cater to both the sporting and entertainment industry. With more eco-conscious sponsors, they may also be eligible for tax breaks and incentives.
