Bahrain International Circuit, home of Formula 1’s Bahrain Grand Prix, has announced the completion of a major solar project to coincide with this year’s staging of the event at the weekend.
The project resulted in all energy requirements over the race weekend being powered entirely by renewables. Solar PV energy was used over the three-day event, while the circuit also installed its first electric vehicle charging stations.
The project delivers on the Kingdom of Bahrain’s 2021 commitment to make the grand prix green by 2022. Work is currently underway to expand solar production at the circuit, with all annual energy needs to be met by solar production.
The new on-site solar production facility will support F1’s plan to have net zero carbon emissions by 2030. Further project phases will also see Bahrain International Circuit’s annual energy needs met sustainably and entirely from renewable sources.
#F1 powered by solar! Our new solar project is complete & operational, delivering enough green energy to more than cover our energy requirements for F1 race week. This is a major milestone to support Bahrain’s commitment to sustainability & F1’s 2030 net carbon neutral target. pic.twitter.com/4LwsjzROwQ
— Bahrain Int. Circuit (@BAH_Int_Circuit) March 19, 2022
Shaikh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa, chief executive of the circuit, said: “The swift completion of the first phase of the Bahrain International Circuit’s solar energy transformation is an important milestone in F1’s target to be carbon neutral by 2030, and in the Kingdom of Bahrain’s net zero ambitions.
“In the coming months we will continue to progress a number of exciting initiatives focussed on further increasing our energy and water efficiency, as well as developing opportunities to expand our solar production.”
F1 president and chief executive Stefano Domenicali added: “This is another very important moment in our plans to be net zero carbon as a sport by 2030 and shows again the vision and speed of action our experienced promoter here in Bahrain is delivering.
“It is great that the energy requirements for the whole race weekend will be covered by solar energy and shows what we can do as a sporting community to make a positive contribution to reduce emissions and our carbon footprint.”
Image: Isabell Schulz/CC BY-SA 2.0/Edited for size
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