Grass on the football pitch is becoming even ‘greener’: Imtech introduces a competence centre for ‘green’ stadium technology

* 35% in energy savings at the Imtech Arena of football club HSV Hamburg

Imtech is the only technical services provider in Europe that is currently working as the technology partner both for the Olympic Stadium for the 2012 Games and all of the three stadiums for the UEFA Euro 2012 in Poland. By now, Imtech has considerable experience with stadiums and has thus set up a special competence centre – the Competence Center Stadiums in Munich, Germany. Here, all of Imtech’s expertise in terms of ‘green’ stadiums and arenas will be brought together with a distinctive a ‘Green Stadium’ philosophy. The objective is to help realize big sporting events in a comfortable and sustainable manner as possible.

Strong reputation in stadium technology
Imtech has a strong reputation in the field of stadium technology. In this regard, Imtech is currently acting as the technology partner for the Olympic Stadium for the 2012 Games in London, all the stadiums for the UEFA Euro 2012 in Poland (the National Stadium in Warsaw, the Baltic Arena in Gdansk and Arena Wroclaw), the Swedbank Arena in Stockholm and various other regional stadiums in Europe. These orders were also obtained because of earlier projects such as the Arena Gelsenkirchen of Schalke 04 in Germany, Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium in London, the Dutch Grolsch Veste of FC Twente, the Dutch Euroborg Stadium of FC Groningen and the technological renovation of the former Olympic Stadium in Berlin. The technological impact on the total performance of the stadiums is growing, and thus stadiums and arenas are strategically important for Imtech.

Hamburger HSV stadium is named the Imtech Arena, 35% in energy savings
Imtech wants to strengthen its name and reputation even more in the area of stadium technology. Accordingly, the home stadium of the top European club HSV in Hamburg recently took on the name Imtech Arena. Nevertheless, Imtech would not be Imtech if it did not add something extra to the stadium. An energy savings plan was developed in order to decrease the energy use in the Hamburg stadium by 3,500 MWh (approximately 35%) and reduce the carbon footprint by 1,200 tonnes. Football can thus become even ‘greener’.

Competence Center Stadiums
At the moment, Imtech has so much experience with stadiums that it has set up a special competence centre – the Competence Center Stadiums in Munich, Germany, where all of Imtech’s expertise in terms of ‘green’ stadiums and arenas will be brought together. Olympic Games, Football World Cups, UEFA Euro Football Championships and numerous other large sporting and athletics events are organised periodically all around the world. There is an increasing need for a total solution that makes ‘green’ stadiums possible. Additionally, the trend is that stadiums are becoming multipurpose. A stadium is now not only used for sport but often also for business meetings, concerts or events. This means that stadiums are becoming multifunctional buildings. Through new multipurpose use, the demand for energy increases. This happens at a time when energy demand should actually be decreased.

‘Green Stadium’ philosophy: integration of ‘green’ technology
To bridge this divide, there is only one alternative: stadiums have to become more energy-efficient. Imtech has therefore put together a ‘Green Stadium’ philosophy. The objective is to employ integrated technology and bring together high-tech solar and wind energy solutions. This involves the combination of cogeneration (a mix of producing both heat and electricity – power – with a high yield, this technology is completely CO2 and Nox neutral), energy storage, solar energy, biomass and fermentation. Technology, sustainability and economic viability go hand in hand in creating ‘green’ solutions for stadiums.