The Club Vélez Sarsfield inaugurated a solar energy system at the José Amalfitani stadium, becoming the first club in South America to implement this sustainable technology in its sports infrastructure. With the installation of 210 bifacial solar panels, the club from Liniers will supply between 15% and 20% of its electric consumption and will be able to inject surpluses into the public grid of Edesur, also benefiting connected households.
President Fabián Berlanga highlighted: “We set milestones. We are the most illuminated club in South America, the first to implement sustainable energy. This adds to our greatness and makes us proud. Hopefully, we can continue on this path and all fans feel proud”.
Technical details of the project
The project was developed by Coral Energía, part of the Corven Group, over an area of 1,250 m².
- Installed capacity: 210 latest technology bifacial panels.
- Estimated annual production: 180 MWh.
- Energy coverage: between 15% and 20% of the club’s consumption.
- Surpluses: injection into the public grid of Edesur.
The bifacial panels capture both direct and reflected radiation, maximizing performance even on low-light days.
Institutional and community impact
The project marks a before and after in the operational efficiency of First Division clubs in Argentina. In addition to supplying the stadium’s offices and facilities, the clean energy generated helps reduce the carbon footprint and modernize sports infrastructure.
Representatives from the City Government participated in the inaugural event, highlighting the environmental and community value of the initiative. Nelson Pugliese, third vice-president of Vélez, emphasized that the system will allow collaboration with the neighbors of Commune 9 in the face of growing energy demand.
Advantages of investing in solar energy
Vélez’s experience reflects the benefits of solar energy in Argentina:
- Sustained economic savings: reduction of fixed electricity expenses.
- Rate independence: protection against increases and removal of subsidies.
- Fight against climate change: clean energy that avoids CO₂ emissions.
- Autonomy and security: systems with batteries protect against supply cuts.
- Real estate appreciation: installations with photovoltaic generation increase their market value.
In the Argentine context, the increase in energy rates has reduced the payback time of the equipment. Thanks to Distributed Generation laws, households and businesses can self-supply and inject surpluses into the grid, receiving economic compensation.
The inauguration of the solar system at the Amalfitani makes Vélez a regional pioneer and a sustainability benchmark in sports.
The project not only modernizes the club’s infrastructure but also paves the way for other sports institutions to adopt clean, efficient, and profitable energy models.
