SALVADOR DA BAHIA – BRAZIL (BDCi) — Brazil has plans to build the first photovoltaic system on a soccer stadium in Latin America. The project involves the use of two module technologies: On the one hand, flexible, very light-weight thin-film modules made by United Solar Ovonic (Uni-Solar) with total power of 238 kWp are installed on the canopy covering the grand stands. Construction will start in September 2011; the system’s grid connection is scheduled for December 2011. Guillermo Barea Herranz, Chairman of the board of directors of Gehrlicher Ecoluz Solar do Brasil: “We are very pleased to have convinced Coelba with our concept.” Ricardo da Silva David, Director of Gehrlicher Ecoluz Solar do Brasil, adds: “This contract is very important to us, in particular against the backdrop of plans for outfitting all twelve 2014 Soccer World Cup venues with solar power systems” Gehrlicher Ecoluz Solar do Brasil S.A., a joint venture of the German photovoltaics specialist Gehrlicher Solar AG and the Brazilian environmental technology group Ecoluz Participações S.A., was awarded an international tender by the Brazilian utility Coelba. Financing for the system is supported by power producer Coelba and the government of the State of Bahia, the owner of Pituaçu Stadium.
A portion of the green electricity generated is intended to be used for operating the stadium in the future and thereby reducing the running energy costs. Tender procedures for the twelve venues of the 2014 Soccer World Cup are still in progress, the release added.
By: Janete Weinstein Source: CyberMedia News Images courtesy of Gehrlicher August 29, 2011
11:42p.m. PDT