Green electricity and weather station – energy efficiency at Bayer 04 Leverkusen
Bayer 04 Leverkusen is aware of its role as a role model for society and the increasing demands in dealing with energy resources – irrespective of the additional challenges that have arisen in this area in 2022. In the past six years, the club has already been able to reduce its total relative energy consumption by more than 30 percent through targeted technical optimisation. And it will continue to examine all possibilities that promise a positive effect on the energy balance of the football company.
Bayer04.de has compiled an overview of the current and essential measures around the BayArena below:
LIGHTING IN THE BAYARENA
Since this season, Bayer 04 has had a partner for modern and energy-saving light sources at its side in the company ‘Ledvance’. The replacement of the lighting in the BayArena and many other buildings on the grounds with energy-saving LED lamps has a positive effect on the energy balance. In addition, the running time of the numerous installations has been optimised many times over.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING AT THE BAYARENA
Light energy is also used in a targeted manner in the outdoor area of the stadium: if no event is taking place in the BayArena, only the pathway lighting is in operation in the evening and is switched off completely from 0.00 a.m. onwards. The lighting is only switched on again from 6 a.m. onwards if necessary, for example when it is dark in winter, to ensure traffic safety. The two large BayArena letterings including the Bayer Cross on the roof of the stadium will remain completely switched off in the future and until further notice. In principle, lighting will only be switched on if it is necessary for match operations or safety.
ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION
Bayer 04 has been purchasing and using only certified green electricity since 2015. The club reacted early to the recent massive increases in energy prices and purchased the contingent for the next two years early on.
PHOTOVOLTAICS
Thanks to a modern photovoltaic system, the roofs of the garages and warehouses around the BayArena have long been used to store energy. This solar energy is used, among other things, to charge and operate Greenkeeping’s electric mowers, which have been introduced on a trial basis. The roof of the BayArena is not yet approved for photovoltaic systems due to static conditions.
HEATING ENERGY
When it comes to heating, Bayer 04 focuses on ecological sustainability and starts at the most important place in football: the pitch. In order to guarantee smooth training and match operations throughout the year, turf heating is essential on the pitches in and around the BayArena (and mandatory under DFL regulations). In order to use the energy as efficiently as possible, Bayer 04’s turf heating systems are linked to a weather station and thus to the current forecasts. This methodology saves over two-thirds of the heating energy. In addition, lava stone gravel under the stadium’s turf surface provides additional energy savings.
OTHER SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS AT BAYER 04
WATER USE
In addition to the turf heating system, the irrigation of the grass pitches plays a decisive role in ensuring the necessary playing and training conditions. In this area, too, Bayer 04 relies on a well-thought-out and sensible use of resources and irrigates all pitches exclusively with water from its own well systems instead of using valuable drinking water. The staff of Bayer 04 have recently been supplied with water from a piped system using treated drinking water in order to avoid the use (and transport) of PET bottles.
WASTE MANAGEMENT
Above all, recycling is a key element in modern waste management. Accordingly, Bayer 04 has recently invested in two state-of-the-art composting plants that convert lawn clippings into nutrient-rich humus. Food waste from all events at the BayArena is also recycled in this way.
E-MOBILITY
Since 2021, four modern charging stations for electric cars have been installed and are in operation in front of the stadium’s South Entrance, with more in the pipeline.
