Design & Development

London Stadium solar installation to drive energy cost savings

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A giant solar membrane is set to be installed at London Stadium, the home of English Premier League football club West Ham United, after City Hall approved a multi-million-pound loan for the project.

The London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC), which is driving the project, said it would “help drive savings of up to £350,000 a year” through cutting-edge solar technology.

The installation is expected to cost about £4m, according to the LLDC. However, the exact loan value from City Hall’s £500m Green Finance Fund will be confirmed when the tender for the work is awarded.

The membrane, made from photovoltaic material, will span some 6,000 to 7,000 square metres.

There has been “significant interest” in the tender process, which began last month, according to the LLDC. A delivery partner is expected to be appointed in November, with the installation scheduled for completion by next summer at the former London 2012 Olympic Games centrepiece.

Ben Coulter, the LLDC’s head of sustainability, said: “The panels will generate more than one million kWh of renewable energy every year – 10% of the stadium’s current electricity usage.

“They will save around 270 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions a year – the equivalent of making 70 homes carbon neutral.

“It means we can showcase cutting-edge solar technology on a venue with a global audience.”