During SKEMP week SEMS students were the first educational group onsite to find out more about the London Stadium Solar Panels project led by Ameresco.

Ameresco is a leading cleantech integrator specialising in energy efficiency low carbon and renewable energy.

The 2 hour visit involved meeting engineering and construction professionals from Ameresco, London Stadium staff and the solar panels manufacturer, as well as climbing to the London stadium roof and seeing the stadium dressing rooms.

Solar installation at London Stadium is an approx. £3.5million contract, and the first UK installation of bonded flexible mono-siliconsolar (PV) with 6,500 square meters of solar panels on the stadium roof, capable of generating 1,000MWh clean electricity annually.

The Ameresco team shared their challenges, including the membrane roof being unsuitable for conventional PV, weight restrictions, and the wind and weather conditions.

The key impact of the project is annual clean energy equivalent to powering over 250 homes, generating enough electricity for West Ham’s Premier League Home games and major events and a significant contribution to London Stadium’s sustainability goals, which aligns with London Mayor’s and global efforts for a greener future.

Many music artists including Coldplay are now demanding to only play in venues which have sustainability initiatives working towards net zero.

SEMS student Edimandi Kamugisha, MSc Advanced Mechanical Engineering, was inspired by the visit:

“My visit to this project was truly inspiring. Witnessing first-hand how a historic stadium can be re-imagined with cutting-edge renewable energy technology reaffirms the potential of solar power to revolutionize urban landscapes. The New London Solar Stadium project by Ameresco is a testament to innovation, environmental responsibility, and the future of clean energy in major public venues”