Martifer Solar is powering the 2014 FIFA World Cup with its 1.4 MW installation on the rooftop of the Mineirão stadium in Belo Horizonte, the capital city of the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais. The company completed the PV plant as part of the Minas Solar 2014 program for Companhia Energética de Minas Gerais (CEMIG) and their partners, German bank kfW and Minas Arena.

The Mineirão stadium will make history on 14th June during the match between Colombia and Greece, as it will kick off the first ever World Cup game to be played in a solar-powered stadium. In total, the stadium at Belo Horizonte will host six games of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, including a semi-final match on 8th July. According to a recent statement from CEMIG, the 1.4 MW PV installation at Mineirão stadium is the first investment of its type, as well as being the first large-scale solar power facility in operation within the country of Brazil.

Henrique Rodrigues, CEO of Martifer Solar, said, “We are pleased to take part in this historic milestone for FIFA and the country of Brazil. Martifer Solar continues to enforce its position in the PV industry as it takes one step forward to showcase solar energy at the world’s largest sporting event, the FIFA World Cup.”

Marco Aurelio Dumont Porto, CEMIG’s Manager of Alternative Energy, said, “The solar installation at the Mineirão stadium represents a milestone in the history of the company and reaffirms its innovative character. Approximately R$ 15 million were invested in the implementation of the first solar plant of the state and in the improvement of the distribution network in the surrounding region.”

The 1.4 MW PV installation at the Mineirão stadium was built on an area of approximately 10,000 m2, which covers more than 85% of the stadium’s rooftop. There are 5,910 modules installed in a fixed position, which totals an estimated production capacity of more than 1.6 GWh on an annual basis. With this capacity, the PV plant will offset 139.7 tons of carbon dioxide each year, which is sufficient energy to power more than 2,700 inhabitants in Brazil on an annual basis.

“As solar energy becomes increasingly competitive with other sources of renewable energy, there is growing support for the sector at the regional level among Brazilian states such as Minas Gerais and Pernambuco. Martifer Solar has already proven itself as one of the key EPC companies in Brazil,” said Paulo Figueiredo, Head of Business Development for Martifer Solar Brazil.