German football club Borussia Dortmund has signed a deal with PV module manufacturer JA Solar, which will see a solar energy system installed on the roof of its stadium, Signal Iduna Park.
The agreement, which will create the world’s largest photovoltaic system on a stadium roof, will see Borussia Dortmund supplied with green energy for the next 30 years, ‘uniting two powerful partners with a shared commitment’.
‘Commitment to sustainability’
We are very pleased about the partnership with JA Solar, which will play a key role in the planned renovation of the photovoltaic system on the roof of Signal Iduna Park,” commented Carsten Cramer, managing director of Borussia Dortmund GmbH & Co. KGaA. “This collaboration underlines our commitment to sustainability and innovative technologies. With JA Solar’s modules, […] we are setting the course for a more environmentally friendly future.”
More than 11,000 modules are set to be installed on the stadium roof, which together will generate more than 4GWh annually for the football club’s own consumption, as well as reduce its CO2 emissions by approximately 1,800 tonnes per year.
In other words, the solar energy generated could power the stadium’s floodlights for 1,000 matches per year.
In keeping with the yellow-and-black colour scheme Borussia Dortmund is famous for – along with its legendary ‘Yellow Wall’ – JA Solar’s photovoltaic modules will be black, and are similar to those used on private homes in Germany and other markets.
Solar installation
Installation on the photovoltaic system is expected to begin in the summer of 2025, with completion by the start of the next football season.
“We believe that Borussia Dortmund and JA Solar share many common values, and we are really proud that our modules are to be used for this project at this iconic stadium,” added Henning Schulze, vice president JA Solar. “In times of rapid political change and market disruption, our participation in this project is a clear statement from JA Solar that we are here to stay.” Read more here.
