UEFA EURO 2024: How Football Unites Communities and Can Champion Decarbonisation

Why Football clubs Should Embrace Sustainability

Photograph: Blickpixel

A blog by 2Rays Solar 

Friday 12 July 2024  5:00 PM

Football is a sport loved by millions, it unites people from diverse backgrounds, creating a sense of community and belonging. Local football clubs often serve as hubs of social activity, bringing together families, friends, and neighbours to support their teams, which strengthens community bonds. Major football events such as UEFA EURO 2024 boost local economies through increased tourism, hospitality, and retail activities. The economic impact of football extends to grassroots levels, where local clubs and matches stimulate small businesses and community investments.

However, it can be a carbon-intensive industry. 

Studies show that each match necessitates a significant energy supply, which can vary from 15,000 to 30,000 kilowatt-hours (KWh) depending on the stadium’s dimensions.

Pioneering Sustainable Practices in Football

A considerable amount of this energy usage is dedicated to lighting, including floodlights, scoreboards, and advertising LED boards.Collectively these consume approximately 40% of the total energy during a game.

(Staff, 2024)

Photograph: Steve Pancrate

Powering the Future with Solar

Football clubs can significantly boost their societal and environmental influence by embracing sustainable practices. By investing in renewable energy solutions such as solar panels, clubs can diminish their dependence on fossil fuels, cut energy expenses, and shrink their carbon footprint. 

These initiatives bring substantial environmental advantages, including diminished greenhouse gas emissions and the preservation of natural resources. This, not only aids in tackling climate change but also fosters cleaner, healthier environments for communities. Furthermore, transitioning to sustainable energy sources can serve as a model for fans and local businesses, encouraging broader adoption of eco-friendly practices (Lewis, 2023)

Photograph: RF. Studio

Greener Pastures: Empowering Businesses with Green Grants 

Businesses in Birmingham and Solihull now have a valuable opportunity to receive up to £100,000 government grant for investing in solar panels through the newly launched Net Zero Grant Programme (NZGP)

This initiative, backed by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, offers significant financial assistance to small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) aiming to improve energy efficiency and reduce operating costs. 

Photograph: Superadsmaker

The programme includes an intervention rate of up to 50% for investments in renewable technologies such as solar panels, which not only decrease energy expenses but also enhance sustainability efforts—ensuring substantial support for businesses seeking to implement these cost-saving measures (Birmingham City Council, n.d.)

By participating in NZGP, businesses can enhance their competitive edge, comply with legal climate objectives, and make positive environmental contributions. 

The Competitive Edge of Being a Leader in Sustainability

Research consistently shows a positive relationship between implementing renewable energy solutions and enhancing financial performance in companies, maybe this could be the case for football clubs too. This underscores the idea that sustainable practices can yield improved economic outcomes. As renewable energy technologies become more affordable and environmentally friendly, investing in them gains popularity. Integrating these strategies into operations is increasingly recognised as crucial for achieving long-term financial success (Issa and Hanaysha, 2023)

By embracing these initiatives and changes, football clubs and local businesses can not only champion sustainability, help to reduce their energy bills but also lead by example, setting the stage for a greener, more prosperous future for everyone involved.

Credit : Jing Wang