Stadium to be first of kind in Israel, save 400,000 NIS yearly in electricity costs.
By SHARON UDASINTeddy Stadium.(photo credit: P. BROYD ARCHITECT, GOLDSHMIDT ARDITI BEN NAIM ARCHITECTS)
Joining many sports venues that have gone green around the world, Jerusalem’s Teddy Stadium will soon integrate a solar-energy system, the municipality announced on Monday.The 639-kilowatt capacity photovoltaic system will be capable of generating up to about a million kilowatt-hours of electricity per year, and is set to be the first solar-energy system installed at an athletic arena in Israel, a statement from the city said.Generating enough electricity to satisfy the entire facility’s consumption needs, the solar panels will be situated on the beams that encircle the stadium above the stands, according to the municipality.All in all, the project is expected to save the municipality about NIS 400,000 a year in electricity costs associated with the stadium, the city said. The initiative has been led by the municipality itself and the city’s Moriah Jerusalem Development Company, which has been responsible for installing and operating about 120 solar systems on educational and public institutions in the city over the past four years.“Over the past few years, the city of Jerusalem has become a leader in sports and sports infrastructure with the construction of the Malha international sports complex under which Teddy Stadium was expanded by 31,000 seats, with the aim of turning it into a national stadium,” said Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat. “Now we are pleased to combine sports with sustainability and green energy, and make Teddy Stadium the first sports facility in the country running on solar energy. We all hope that Israeli and Jerusalem teams will enjoy the new energy, which will bring about many victories.”Construction on the Teddy Stadium project is expected to start this summer, with operation set to begin by year end, the city said.
