UDINE, Italy – As the UEFA Super Cup commences on August 12, 2025, for the first time in Udinese‘s Bluenergy Stadium, the spotlight won’t just be on Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) versus Tottenham Hotspur; it will also shine on some serious green vibes. (Who sabi say football fit sabi relate to climate change too?)
This stadium, where the Champions League champions go head-to-head with the Europa League victors, ain’t just a regular pitch. Na the heart of one big project wey fit change the game completely. With 2,409 solar panels up there, dis stadium dey produce over 1,000 Megawatt hours (MWh) of energy yearly. (E good to see my bros light no go through gas from fossil fuels.)
Why this matter so much? Because na enough energy to power the stadium fully self-sufficient! Dem don dey reduce costs for Udinese as dem switch to renewable energy. According to the chief commercial officer, Magda Pozzo, dis move go save about 6,500 tonnes of CO2 from entering our beloved atmosphere every year. (That one na like removing 1,516 cars off the roads – no be small matter.)
Magda no dey play o. She sabi football fit get influence with over two billion fans worldwide, so she feel say why not use dis platform to push for sustainability? (Dis na how real champions go fit make impact – no be just to lift trophy!)
The solar park project stretch for 4,615 meters, and dem sabi the importance of sustainability as the world dey face climate crisis wey dey affect sport matter. Our sweet Magda even sit on the European Club Association Sustainability Committee and her voice dey strong as she represent Udinese for Cop 29 wey happen for Baku last November. (Na she wey dey make everybody sabi say football no be only about goals and assists.)
For football, every small step matter. Four years ago, Udinese start work with Bluenergy to bring dis renewable energy idea to life. As e be now, the project dey progress, even if dem still dey wait for full approval to hook the panels to the grid. The installation don complete since April, but no wahala, dem dey expect am to kick off fully by the season opener on August 25. (We dey hope say na before then dis matter go click.)
But wait, make we no forget the community dey benefit too. Approximately 30% of the excess energy wey dem go generate go dey distributed to locals. Plus, di summer camps wey dey encourage children to be more aware about the environment dey receive positive feedback from parents. Magda dey commend the team on how dis project go fit inspire future generations. (No be to just play ball, but to help the next generation too!)
Despite all these good intentions, we still dey see some issues for sports’ sustainability efforts, like teams wey dey fly on private jets. Even Udinese no dey shake ground, but Magda dey clear say she go fit handle am. The journey go take time, but she dey hopeful that soon dem go enjoy better travel conditions as dem dey push for low-emission team bus. (14 hours by bus? E no go gree o, but dey try.)
In conclusion, as the Super Cup dey happen and our eyes dey glued to the pitch, let’s not forget the bigger picture: Sustainability and football can jam hands together for a brighter future. (Na wetin we dey call win-win!)
