Solar-powered ‘dragon’ stadium in Taiwan
The solar-powered ‘dragon’ stadium in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, is the world’s first stadium which gets all its power needs from the sun.
The solar-powered ‘dragon’ stadium in Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Designed by Japanese architect Toyo on a steel-rod structure with a roof covered with solar panels, the horseshoe-shaped structure has been constructed for the World Games to be held in Kaohsiung city in July 2009. Spread over 19 hectares and having a seating capacity of 55,000 it will be used mainly for athletics and rugby events, including hosting the main events for the 2009 World Games.
After the World Games, the Taiwanese national football team will play home matches at the ‘dragon’ stadium.
The stadium’s unique, semi-spiral shape imitates a dragon and is intended to provide a “cordial welcome and a cheerful greeting to athletes and spectators with its open-ended structure,” according to the organizers of the World Games.
There are 8,844 solar panels on the roof which are expected to generate more electricity than is needed to power the building’s 3,300 lights and two gigantic television screens. Some 1.14 million kWh of electricity a year will be generated – preventing, in the process, 660 tons of carbon dioxide from being discharged into the atmosphere.
As for the surplus energy generated during the warm weather, the government of Taiwan intends to sell it.
I think solar energy is going to go mainstream soon. It won’t be long before there is cost parity with conventional fuels. Then it will explode. Beautiful stadium. Very impressive.
another great step for mankind!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
simply wonderful, another step into the future (or present?)
A simply beautiful stadium and incredible work of construction. Global warming is junk science and, unfortunately, the people of Taiwan get to foot the bill for millions of extra dollars to install a system that will never pay for itself.
Nice stadium. Very limp article, not much detail at all about the panels or system.