en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) has installed the largest photovoltaic array at a UK sports venue on the roof of the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. The 1.5 MW system, consisting of 3,296 Trina 455-watt modules and module optimizers, has been generating electricity since February 2026.
Installer EvoEnergy told pv magazine that the rooftop construction project took six weeks, scheduled during the stadium's off-season from mid-August to the end of September 2025. Considering the building's height and wind speeds near the river, the array was installed using K2 standing seam clamps to ensure system robustness.
The WRU expects the array to generate enough electricity annually to cover more than 50 match days and predicts a return on the rooftop investment within two to three years. The 74,000-seat Principality Stadium, completed in 1999, is one of the world's first column-free stadiums with a fully retractable roof. The installation utilized cranes on site to lift components and equipment onto the main roof trusses.
Darren Crossman, WRU's Head of Facilities, Safety, and Sustainability, stated that as stewards of this iconic venue, they have a responsibility to lead by example, and this solar project represents a significant technological and operational step forward.
The historic Ascot Racecourse in England has also installed a new solar array on its grandstand roof. The array, mounted on the 480-meter-long grandstand, comprises over 1,200 solar panels with a total capacity of 608 kW. Installed by SSE Energy Solutions, it is expected to be energized later in 2026.
Sam Thompson, Director of Venue Operations at Ascot Racecourse, said this project will enable the venue to take a major step in its plans to reduce emissions and enhance operational resilience. By transforming the grandstand roof into a long-term energy asset and connecting it to the grid later this year, it supports environmental commitments and the future sustainability of the racecourse. Tamsin Lishman, Director of Customer Assets at SSE Energy Solutions, noted that projects like Ascot demonstrate that commercial solar can be deployed at scale even in complex and high-profile environments.
The installations at Principality Stadium and Ascot Racecourse are the latest examples of photovoltaic deployment at prominent UK sports venues, with solar arrays already in place at the Manchester City Football Club campus, London Stadium, and The Wing grandstand at Silverstone Circuit.
This article is compiled by Wedoany. All AI citations must indicate the source as "Wedoany". If there is any infringement or other issues, please notify us promptly, and we will modify or delete it accordingly. Email: news@wedoany.com
