• Bluenergy and Udinese have begun work on the installation of more than 2,400 next-generation solar panels on the roof of the Friuli stadium.
• The football ground will thus be equipped with a state-of-the-art photovoltaic system. The works involve the installation of 409 solar panels covering a total surface area of 4,615 sq m.
• The panels will make it possible to produce an average of around 3,000 kWh/day, making the facility partially self-sufficient in energy terms.

Soon, Udinese supporters will be able to cheer on their team whilst respecting the environment. Their stadium is, in fact, about to become energy-sustainable. Udinese Calcio and energy company Bluenergy Group have jointly announced the start of work on the construction of a state-of-the-art photovoltaic system at the stadium owned by the Friuli-based club, known in the past as Stadio Friuli and more recently as Bluenergy Stadium. The system, made up of more than 2,400 next-generation solar panels, will have the capacity to produce an average of around 3,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per day, thereby helping to make the football ground one of the most advanced in Europe in terms of emissions reduction as well.

Udinese's sustainability project

The project, led by Bluenergy Group with the support of the Politecnico di Milano, involves the installation of 2,409 solar panels over a total surface area of 4,615 square metres. The arrangement of the panels, divided into two parallel sections on the roof, will respect the original architecture of the stadium designed by Studio Casamonti. In addition, the integration of a battery storage system with a capacity of 330 kW is currently being assessed, with the aim of optimising the charge and discharge cycle and enhancing the system. Thanks to this initiative, which is expected to become operational by next October, Udinese is taking a significant step towards innovative management of its stadium, making it one of the most sustainable in Europe. Since 2018, the Friuli-based company Bluenergy has been the club's energy partner, supplying energy derived exclusively from renewable sources and enabling a saving of 5,620 tonnes of CO2 to date. This commitment forms part of a broader energy transition pathway, with the ultimate goal of completely eliminating CO2 emissions.

Udinese's sustainable approach is also reflected in the decision to build the facility on the same site as the previous one, thereby avoiding further land consumption, and in the partial recovery of materials produced by the demolition. The multifunctional nature of the facility, with a meeting centre, the club's headquarters and other structures, responds to a holistic vision of stadium use, promoting a sustainable approach in line with European trends in the context of the Sustainability working group of the European club association. Professional sports clubs are required to comply with pro-environment regulations just like companies in other sectors.

Udinese Calcio @Udinese_1896

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Bluenergy Stadium crea energia 🔋

🤝 Udinese e Bluenergy Group insieme per realizzare un impianto fotovoltaico da 1.1 MWH/anno che renderà lo stadio di Udine uno dei più evoluti in Europa anche in termine di riduzione delle emissioni ☘️🍃

#losportcreaenergia #bluenergy

♥ 13 20 feb 2024 · Apri su X →

The history of the Friuli

The stadium where Udinese plays is known as the Friuli, named after the region in which it is located. Over the course of its history it has seen world-famous footballers grace its pitch, from Brazilian Zico to German Oliver Bierhoff and Italian Antonio Di Natale. The black-and-white team is a constant presence in Serie A and has in the past even taken part in the European Champions League competition. Today, it is the second stadium owned by a club — after Juventus's in Turin — and the first stadium sponsored by a commercial brand in Italy; it is a multifunctional facility with 25,132 covered numbered seats and a spectacular diamond aesthetic. The stadium aims to be a point of reference for the local area, active seven days a week, and for this reason it also serves as the headquarters of Udinese Calcio and the training centre for its teams. Work is due to begin shortly on the construction of new areas open to the public at the ends and sides of the ground, including a wellness centre, a medical centre and areas dedicated to families.

The total annual energy produced by the system is 1,100,000 kWh, equivalent to approximately 330 domestic installations, with an average of around 3,000 kWh/day. This makes the facility partially self-sufficient in energy terms. With the new project, the energy produced each day that exceeds consumption and is not absorbed by the stadium will be fed into the grid. Each section will in turn be divided into autonomous parts, separated from one another, so as to allow prompt intervention in the event of a local fault and ensure continuity of supply. "We are recognised as the most sustainable club in Italy and the fourth in the world, and this motivates us to promote, together with a protagonist of the energy transition in our country such as Bluenergy, projects that give further impetus to this commitment. Football moves media levers that have no equal, and we have, beyond the duty to act virtuously ourselves, the duty to convey messages that engage supporters in a collective action against climate change," said Franco Collavino, General Manager of Udinese Calcio. The project will deliver a significant saving in CO2 emissions into the atmosphere, quantifiable at around 450 tonnes/year, the equivalent of 700 trees planted and equal to the emissions of 3,000 cars in one month. In this way, the black-and-whites' goals will be celebrated in a place that is more respectful of the environment and that may serve as an example for other Italian stadiums.