The new main stadium for the World Games 2009 in Kaohsiung, Taiwan boasts Taiwan’s largest solar panel installation to date and is also the world’s biggest solar powered sports facility.
8,844 solar panels covering an area of 14,155m2 are integrated into the roof construction of the sports facility, which occupies 19 hectares. 75% of the substantial energy needs of the 55,000 crowd capacity stadium will be supplied by the solar array and on days when no competitions are held, the electricity generated will be fed into the mains grid.
The extensive lighting system of the stadium takes over six minutes to power up and illuminates the track and field with 3,300 lux. A “lux” is a unit of illuminance and luminous emittance As a comparison, the recommended office lighting level in Australia is 320 lux.
Two jumbotrons screens are on each side of the stadium, along with a surround sound system.
The solar panels on the stadium roof generate 1.14 million kWh of electricity per year, avoiding 660 tons of annual carbon dioxide output if that electricity was generated by conventional means.
Other eco-friendly aspects to the stadium include all the raw materials used in construction are 100% reusable and made in Taiwan. The surrounding public area features bicycle paths and extensive landscaping and waterways.
Athletes from more than 90 nations will be competing against each other at the World Games 2009 this June
The “green” stadium solar project development is a joint venture of Taiwanese company Lucky Power Technology Co., Ltd. and 3S Swiss Solar Systems AG.
