London Stadium to become the world’s greenest sport, entertainment complex

Built to host the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, London Stadium was always envisioned to be adaptable to future uses.

As stadium architects Populous explained when the facility was designed, “it was with an ethos of ‘embracing the temporary,’ in the knowledge that, post-Games, the stadium’s function would change and, as a result, the structure would need to change too.”

With the recent approval to install 6,500 square metres of solar membrane panels on its roof, London Stadium will soon become a showcase of energy self-reliance.

This achievement is remarkable due to the sheer size of the complex. When operating in football mode for home team West Ham United, London Stadium can seat 62,500. In concert mode, capacity jumps to 80,000. The facility has also hosted the Rugby World Cup and the first Major League Baseball game to be played in Europe.

The roof structure itself was the biggest challenge when it came to adding solar panels. The stadium roof is not only the longest cantilevered roof in the world but is also lightweight in its design.

This meant solar panel supplier Ameresco could not use conventional framed solar PV arrays due to weight restrictions, high wind loading and complex shading patterns. Instead, the company employed an innovative approach.

“Ameresco’s solution utilizes ultra-thin solar panels complemented by dynamic SolarEdge optimizers and inverters, meticulously designed to maximize energy generation levels while seamlessly integrating with the stadium’s architectural constraints,” the company said.

Installation is expected to be complete by this summer.

Ameresco is a U.S. company based in Massachusetts, founded in 2000 by George Sakellaris, a pioneer in the energy service business. The company has over 60 regional offices and more than 1,300 employees across North America and Europe. It has successfully completed energy saving, environmentally responsible projects with federal, state and local governments, utilities, health care and educational institutions, housing authorities and commercial and industrial customers.

The company’s contract was awarded in October 2024 and is valued at approximately £3.5 million (C$6.3 million). It includes comprehensive operations and maintenance services for the duration of 25 years, and forms the vast majority of a £4.35million (C$7.8 million) climate action investment at the stadium. The other £850,000 (C$1.53 million) will be allocated to LED lighting, chiller and air handling improvements and kiosk energy-saving devices. The facility operators say these measures alone are projected to reduce the stadium’s energy use by 1.9 million kWh by March 2025.

“The roof solar savings will drive a further reduction of at least 0.8 million kWh, and a further saving of between 10 per cent to 15 per cent on electricity costs,” stadium operators say. “In total, between 2022 and 2026 the stadium will reduce energy drawn from the national grid by three million kWh, from 11.5 million kWh per annum to 8.5 million.”

The 850,000 kWh generated annually by the solar panels will be sufficient to power approximately 20 football matches, four concerts, two MLB games and one international athletics meet. The estimated carbon savings exceed 200 tonnes of carbon emissions a year, equivalent to 100 flights from London to New York City.

The project was the first to receive funding from the Mayor of London’s £500 million Green Finance Fund, set out to offer flexible, low-cost financing to help public sector bodies decarbonize and accelerate London’s transition to net-zero.

“Working to design the layout of the solar panels on the roof demonstrates the commitment to innovation and sustainability that has been at the heart of the London Stadium design since its inception,” said Philip Johnson, senior principal at Populous and head of the London Stadium project.

Mete Coban, deputy mayor for environment and energy added, “these solar panels are a game changer for the London Stadium, turning it into one of the world’s greenest sports and concert venues and hugely reducing its energy use and running costs.”

John Bleasby is a freelance writer. Send comments and Inside Innovation column ideas to editor@dailycommercialnews.com.