Bluenergy Stadium solar farm at the center of soccer’s first energy community
Press release published on the official website of theUdinese Calcio.
An unprecedented sustainability and solidarity initiative comes to life around the 1.1 MWh/year photovoltaic park at Udine Stadium
Udinese Calcio and Bluenergy Group’s joint commitment to environmental and social sustainability takes an extraordinary new step today. As the two clubs announce the completion of work on the photovoltaic system housed on the roof of Bluenergy Stadium, a new project involving the Friuli Venezia Giulia region and society comes to life.
THE ENERGY COMMUNITY
“Energy on the Field,” a Renewable Energy Community (REC) that will allow club supporters and businesses in the area surrounding the facility that join, to share and use the portion of energy produced by Bluenergy Stadium’s solar farm and not used in the facility, is born.
The expression of interest from surrounding companies is already underway, while the official presentation of the project coincides with the kick-off of the membership collection phase among team supporters. Thus, a sustainable, supportive and accessible model of energy production and management is realized-through the first CER linked to a soccer stadium’s photovoltaic park.
THE SOLAR PARK
Completed a few days ago by the Bluenergy team, the photovoltaic system housed on the roof of the stadium owned by the Friulian club is a state-of-the-art development that sees 2,409 state-of-the-art solar panels installed, capable of producing an average of about 3,000 kWh/day. Designed with the support of the Milan Polytechnic as energy advisor, the facility, whose panels occupy a total of 4,615 square meters of floor space, adds further elements of innovation to a sports facility that is already a reference in Europe for future stadiums in terms of design, multifunctionality, safety and sustainability.
THE SOCIAL PROJECT
The sports facility will absorb about 70 percent of the energy generated by the plant, while the remaining 30 percent will be made available to the energy community, which will then be able to enjoy the incentives that the Gestore dei Servizi Energetici (GSE) recognizes for the energy produced by the plant and contextually consumed by the ERC. To further enhance support for the local area, these resources will be allocated to a socially beneficial charitable project that aims to support the ASUFC (Azienda sanitaria universitaria Friuli Centrale) and, in particular, the Child Neuropsychiatry facility in addressing the issue related to the Eating disorders in minors and adolescents. In addition to the activities and treatments currently carried out at the Day Care Centers for Developmental Eating Disorders, it is planned during 2025 to activate a Residential Center for the Treatment of Eating Disorders, which will be the First residential facility for patients with nutrition and eating disorders in the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region. The decision to support this cause stems from a desire to address a major issue with an integrated and multidisciplinary approach, which is fundamental to the treatment of eating disorders from a young age. Thanks to the contribution from the ERC’s activities, it will be possible not only to finance the purchase of goods and materials, but also to develop workshops and activities, including outside the facilities, offering patients rehabilitative experiences in a setting that is not purely hospital-based, thus fostering a path of care that aims to reintegrate the minor into his or her life context.
A PARTNERSHIP FOR SUSTAINABILITY
The solar park and the establishment of the “Energy on the Field” ERC are yet another part of the commitment to sustainability that drives the partnership between Udinese Calcio and Bluenergy Group.
A commitment that already makes Bluenergy Stadium the lead sports facility for Italian soccer in the challenge to zero CO2 emissions and on other fronts of environmental protection.
Despite the increased burdens, the club in fact wanted the construction to take place on the site occupied by the previous facility so as not to consume additional land. Partial recovery of material produced by the demolition was also undertaken. In the same direction should be considered the decision to create a facility that can be used every day of the week instead of only on matchdays. The meeting center, society headquarters, offices of companies and institutions, and stores already inside, and, in the now near future, the opening of a museum, wellness center, and family areas. Bluenergy has also supplied the club with energy exclusively from renewable sources in recent years, saving about 6,500 tons of CO2. The results on the ground are complemented by those achieved at the international level by Udinese Calcio as a member of the ECA Working Group – the European Football Confederation – and as a signatory club to the Climate Pact at the UN COP29 conference in Baku along with Liverpool, Atletico Madrid, Tottenham Hotspur, Real Betis, Porto and Qarabag.
“The completion of the solar farm and the startup of the world’s first ERC mark an extraordinary milestone in our commitment to sustainability. This project not only significantly reduces the stadium’s environmental impact, but introduces an innovative model of renewable energy sharing that involves businesses and fans, creating value for the local area.” commented – Alberta Gervasio, Chief Executive Officer of Bluenergy Group – “We are particularly proud that the benefits of the energy community are being allocated to a social project of great relevance, an initiative that demonstrates how the energy transition can go beyond environmental protection and become a concrete driver of change, capable of improving people’s lives and strengthening the bond with the community.”
“Today is a historic moment: the first energy community in Italian soccer is born from Bluenergy Stadium. A unique project that pairs with the solar park and which sees us, together with Bluenergy, once again being pioneers allowing us to consolidate our stadium as a global model of sustainability” – comments Franco Collavino, General Manager of Udinese Calcio. – “The energy community makes our project of a community landmark stadium a reality by also empowering fans to team up with us for the environment by becoming true ambassadors for sustainability. We are also very happy with the involvement of Udinese Per la Vita Onlus through the implementation of beneficial projects for the area with the proceeds of the energy community incentives.”
