In an Italy where the Renewable energy community (Cer) They still struggle to take off, the Udinese stadium makes team play with the environment and marks a primacy: it is the first Italian football facility to become the fulcrum of a Cer. The project is called Energy in the field and was born from the collaboration between Udinese Calcio And Bluenergy Group. Behind the scenes, a simple but revolutionary vision: transform the solar energy produced by the stadium into a shared, accessible, supportive asset.
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The numbers are clear: 2,409 photovoltaic panels installed on the roof of the Bluenergy Stadium produce around 1,100 MWh of renewable energy every year, equal to the average needs of 400 families. This allows you to reduce the emission of over 450 tons of CO₂ per year – the equivalent of what around 22,000 trees would absorb in 12 months. 70% of this energy directly feeds the stadium, making it largely self -sufficient; The remaining 30% is instead introduced into the local network and shared with the members of the energy community.
The model is that of the “remote” CERS, made possible by the Italian legislation only recently: just be within a radius of a few kilometers from the production point. Bluenergy aims to involve at least 300 members – between families subscribed to Udinese Calcio, local businesses, small exercises and private citizens – with the aim of reaching an optimal sharing of the energy produced. Each shareholder will receive an economic benefit in the form of compensation for virtually self -consumed energy, but not only.
The project, in fact, stands out for its direct social impact. The economic incentives accrued by Cer – estimated at around 40 thousand euros per year – They will not be redistributed among the shareholders but entirely reinvested in the territory. The first intervention will support the Department of Child Neuropsychiatry of the Friuli Centrale University Health Authorityto deal with a growing problem: eating disorders between teenagers. With the funds, it will be possible to enhance therapies, activate group workshops and, above all, contribute to the birth of the first regional residential structure for young patients with DCA (eating disorders).
“It is a project that brings together clean energy, civic education and social support. Sustainability, today, can no longer be only environmental,” he explained Alberta GervasioBluenergy managing director. “Football has a huge force of involvement, and using it to generate awareness is a unique opportunity.”
Today in Italy the Certain active are less than 50concentrated in four regions (Lombardy, Piedmont, Emilia-Romagna, Puglia). The regulatory delays – only in February 2024 was the definitive implementation decree – and the complexity of the procedures have slowed down the growth of the sector. In this scenario, the case of Udine represents a project that combines technological innovation and social responsibility, opening the way to new collective participation models. The plant is confirmed as among the most sustainable in Europe, Also equipped with rainwater collection systemsLED lighting and columns for electric charging.
