Brazil's solar stadiums
May 8, 2012
Project goal: Provide green energy to stadiums and other facilities
Project size: Energy output of 600-630 megawatt hours a year. The stadium only consumes 360 megawatt hours.
CO2 Reduction: 175 to 184 tons of CO2 a year
Cost: 2.3 million euros ($3 million)
In Latin America, Brazil is by far the leading pioneer in solar energy. Two years before the World Cup tournament gets underway, the host country has installed solar-panel roofs on its stadiums. The first was the Pituaçu Solar Stadium in Salvador de Bahia, which boasts the largest roof-integrated photovoltaic systems in Latin America. With its 600 megawatt hour output, the stadium produces more than enough to cover its own energy consumption, and even powers adjacent facilities. With the first model in place, construction workers are now retrofitting the famous Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro to make it greener and more efficient.
A film by Sascha Quaiser