Manchester City completes install of 2,878 solar panels on the Joie Stadium

Manchester City Football Club has completed the installation of 2,878 solar panels on the roof of Manchester City Women’s Joie Stadium. As a result, the Women’s Super-League’s first and only purpose-built stadium is now also one of the largest solar panel sites in Manchester city centre. 

The completion of the Joie Stadium installation marks a major milestone in the Club’s ongoing solar panel project. In total, the sustainable project will see the introduction of more than 10,500 solar panels across its industry-leading training facility, the City Football Academy.  

Once complete, the panels will generate enough renewable energy to offset the annual power requirements needed to run the City Football Academy, making it one of the largest producers of renewable energy in world football.  

To deliver the project, Manchester City Football Club is working alongside its official solar panel partner, Jinko, who has provided the Club with its innovative and award-winning solar panels.  

Commenting on the milestone, the Club’s Director of Sustainability, Pete Bradshaw, said: 

The completion of the Joie Stadium solar panel installation is an important step in the Club’s  efforts to be net carbon zero by 2030. By transitioning to self-supplied renewable energy, we will guarantee a consistent flow of clean power that offsets the energy required to run the  stadium and significantly reduce its environmental impact. 

In doing so, this installation undoubtedly makes the Joie Stadium one of the most sustainable stadiums in world football.

Meanwhile, Charlotte O’Neill, Managing Director – Manchester City Women, added:  

As a Club, we are constantly challenging ourselves to improve, and today’s announcement is  another example of this.  

When the Joie Stadium opened ten years ago, it broke ground as the first purpose-built stadium in the Women’s Super League and nearly a decade on, we continue to lead the way by making the stadium one of the most sustainable in the league and beyond. Today’s  announcement is a major step towards that goal.

The Joie Stadium will transition to self-supplied renewable energy later in the season once the panel project has been completed. Until then, the Club will continue to power the stadium, and the wider City Football Academy, with 100% renewable energy procured under a Power Purchase Agreement.  

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Overall, the solar panel installation is being split into two phases. Phase One is focused on adding panels to the roofs of facilities across the City Football Academy and is expected to  be completed before the end of 2024. This includes adding 2,288 panels to operational facilities such as Studio 1, City Studio’s production hub that creates unique, world-class creative content for Man City’s channels, partners and broadcasters. 

Meanwhile, Phase Two will see thousands of ground-mounted panels added across the  training facility before the end of the 2024/25 season.  

In the meantime, Manchester City will continue to work with Jinko to connect and engage with fans globally to jointly promote the use of solar energy and further educate them on how they can play a part towards a sustainable future. More information on the partnership can be found here.  

About Manchester City Football Club

Manchester City FC was initially founded in 1880 as St Mark’s West Gorton and officially became Manchester City FC in 1894.

Situated on the wider Etihad Campus, the Club’s footprint includes the 53,500-capacity Etihad Stadium, the 7,000-capacity Joie Stadium and City Football Academy, a state-of-the-art performance, training and youth development facility home to the Club’s men’s, women’s and academy teams.

Ranked as the Most Valuable Football Club Brand in the Premier League by Brand Finance, Manchester City FC is currently  developing a best-in-class fan experience and year-round entertainment and leisure destination at the Etihad Campus.

The Club is committed to operating in a sustainable and socially responsible manner and ensures that equality, diversity and inclusion is embedded into its decision-making processes, culture and practices.

Source & imagery, courtesy: Man City

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