3 Ways Sport Is Supporting 'Our Power, Our Planet' This Earth Day
15 September 2022, Bremen: The Weser Stadium with the integrated solar cells of the photovoltaic ... More system. Photo: Sina Schuldt/dpa (Photo by Sina Schuldt/picture alliance via Getty Images)
"Our Power, Our Planet" is the rallying cry for Earth Day 2025, calling for a bold global effort to triple renewable electricity generation by 2030. The world of sport is emerging as a powerful ally in this transition.
Despite challenging political headwinds in U.S. around clean energy investments, renewable energy sources like solar and wind are expected to grow at record rates globally through 2025. Sports organisations across the globe are harnessing their influence, infrastructure, and fan engagement to advance clean energy goals. From stadiums powered by solar energy, to partnerships with renewable energy companies, the sector is proving that athletic ambition can go hand-in-hand with climate action.
Amsterdam's Johan Cruijff ArenA has long been a sustainability pioneer. Its roof has 4,200 solar panels, and a wind turbine 35km away supplies green energy to the stadium. Storing renewable energy in two large batteries, which have a capacity of 8.6 mega watt hours, enables the stadium to run some matches entirely on green energy.
'More than a stadium we are trying to be a frontrunner in sustainability and we do that in connection with our stakeholders, business partners and also our industry partners," shared director, innovation and advisory, Sander Van Stiphout. "After all, to shape our tomorrow, today we have to give import on sustainability because I believe that stadiums are like the living rooms of the society and create value to the society.'
Johan Cruyff Arena , the main stadium in the Dutch capital and home of AFC AJAX and Netherlands ... More national football team in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The stadium was formerly named Amsterdam Arena but renamed in April 2018 in memory of Ajax legend Johan Cruyff. The capacity of the stadium is 55.000 for football games and 68.000 for concerts. It has a retractable roof and solar panels, photovoltaic sun collectors on the roof. The stadium is a 4 star, rated by UEFA. It is owned by Gemeente Amsterdam Stadion N.V.. Amsterdam, Netherland - August 13, 2019 (Photo by Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
In the U.K., Manchester City Football Club is rolling out a large-scale solar installation across its academy training complex and Joie Stadium. In November 2024, 2,800 of the 10,000 solar panel array had already been installed. "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," said the club's director of sustainability, Pete Bradshaw.
In the U.S., 32% of NFL stadiums are powered by onsite solar arrays. It is an NBA team that has the largest solar installation however. The NBA's Sacramento Kings stadium, Golden 1 Center, uses a mix of both onsite and offsite installations and represents 58% of the capacity installed at NBA arenas.
Several major sports stadiums worldwide are now sponsored by renewable energy companies, signalling a growing commitment to sustainability in sport.
UDINE, ITALY - DECEMBER 03: A general view outside the stadium before the Serie A TIM match between ... More Udinese Calcio and Hellas Verona FC at Bluenergy Stadium on December 03, 2023 in Udine, Italy. (Photo by)
Italy's Bluenergy Stadium, home to Udinese Calcio, began a strategic partnership with Bluenergy Group in early 2024 to install solar panels on the roof of the stadium. 'Our goal is to become the first carbon free stadium in Italy within three to five years,' said Magda Pozzo, Udinese's chief commercial officer in an interview with Forbes.
In April 2025 the 'Energia in Campo' project was launched, a system that features 2,409 solar panels on the stadium's roof, able to generate around 1.1 million kilowatt hours annually.
Premier League football team Arsenal partner with Octopus Energy to run their stadium on 100% renewable electricity, with over 103 games being powered in this way. 2.32 million kg of CO₂ emissions per year are reportedly saved through this partnership, the equivalent of 844 double-decker buses. Arsenal's 3MW mega battery allows Arsenal to avoid the grid during peak times and store clean energy for match day use. Even fans benefit, with a special Arsenal green tariff offering 100% renewable power and prize draws.
Earlier this year the Formula E Championship launched Pit Boost, a new electric vehicle recharging technology that provides a 10% energy increase through a 30-second, 600kW boost in the pit lane. This technological step forward in EV charging, deploys much more power than current consumer superchargers. 'It's fast charging on a mega level," NEOM McLaren chief engineer Albert Lau confirmed, 'probably two times faster than anything available on the road at the moment.'
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - JANUARY 11: Oliver Rowland of Great Britain driving the Nissan Formula E Team ... More Nissan e-4ORCE 05 during the Mexico City E-Prix, Round 2 of the 2025 FIA Formula E World Championship at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on January 11, 2025 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Simon Galloway/LAT Images for Formula E)
Formula E's "race-to-road" technology platform looks to apply innovations directly to the development of EVs for the public. Manufacturers use Formula E to push the boundaries of electric vehicle technology, ultimately improving the performance and efficiency of their road-going EVs, "What we learn on the racetrack through software enables us to transfer that information to our core engineering teams for our future vehicles," commented James Barclay, team principal of Jaguar TCS Formula E racing team.
Teenager Gyeongyun Lily Min hopes 'acoustic energy harvesting' could someday convert the loud sounds of sports arenas into electricity. After building a working model of a basketball stadium in her garage to test how sound vibrations could power piezoelectric devices, she designed different energy harvesters to focus sound onto these devices.
Her innovative project earned her a finalist spot at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair. Mechanical engineer at the University of Michigan, Daniel Inman, sees promise in the concept but notes that piezoelectric harvesting still faces efficiency and scalability challenges. Gyeongyun remains optimistic, saying, 'By advancing the quality of piezoelectric devices and optimizing their deployment, we can unlock a new avenue for sustainable energy production.'
Earth Day 2025's goal to unite people around tripling renewable electricity by 2030 highlights the need for global collaboration and mobilization of communities. Sport has a unique role to play, both operationally and through its cultural influence. With its infrastructure and fan reach, the sporting world is perfectly positioned to accelerate awareness, innovation, and real-world impact.
From powering stadiums sustainably through renewable energy, inspiring fans through visible green action, and innovating, sport can be a driving force in meeting Earth Day's mission for a cleaner, more resilient future.
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