Levi's Stadium Eligible for LEED Gold

SANTA CLARA, CA—NRG Energy Inc., the Santa Clara Stadium Authority and the San Francisco 49ers recently celebrated the completion of the NRG Solar Terrace as well as the photovoltaic solar systems for the three NRG Energy Bridges at Levi's Stadium. This step makes it the first stadium in the US that is home to a professional football team with LEED certification standards incorporated into the original design and architecture.

Among the installations are solar panels expected to generate enough energy annually to offset the power consumed at the stadium during 49ers regular season home games, with the goal to achieve a “net zero” energy use. “The vision for an energy-efficient and visually-stunning stadium has been realized,” says San Francisco 49ers president Paraag Marathe. “We've never strayed from what we wanted Levi's Stadium to represent and that is a place to comfortably enjoy exciting sports and entertainment events and a venue that sparks a new view of what sustainability and being environmentally conscious can look like.”

Levi's Stadium will be powered with assistance from a 375 kW solar installation, comprised of more than 1,150 solar panels along the NRG Solar Terrace and three NRG Energy Bridges. SunPower Corp., the exclusive solar technology partner to the new stadium, supplied its high efficiency, E20/327-watt solar panels for the NRG Energy Bridges and the NRG Solar Terrace. Serving as the main entry and exit avenues to the stadium, the bridges showcase the customizable design of NRG renewable solutions and will provide shade on warm game days. The bridges also serve as inspiration for anyone seeking sustainable energy solutions for themselves on a smaller-scale.

“It is reassuring to know that when leading franchises like the 49ers with a rich tradition of innovation and success decide to embrace clean energy, they turn to NRG,” says David Crane, president and CEO of NRG. “We are pleased to help the 49ers turn their new state-of-the-art stadium into a model for others as we reach for the clean energy future.”

NRG has also installed six eVgo electric vehicle charging stations in the Great America parking lot which have the ability to charge up to 12 vehicles. These chargers will become part of the NRG eVgo network that supports charging needs for electric vehicle drivers at home, at work, on the road, at their apartment community or even at the airport.

Levi's Stadium is one of seven stadiums used for college or professional football where NRG has installed its smart energy solutions. Other venues, including NRG Stadium, FedExField, Lincoln Financial Field, MetLife Stadium, Patriot Place and Arizona State's Sun Devil Stadium have partnered with NRG to push the clean energy movement forward and create structures that generate and thrive from their own on-site energy generation. As the sustainable energy partner of the 49ers, NRG will continue to explore other opportunities to help enhance the stadium's sustainability efforts.

The stadium, as GlobeSt.com previously reported, will be the new home to the San Francisco 49ers, and will also serve as one of the world's best outdoor sports and entertainment venues. It was designed by HNTB and is being built by Turner/Devcon for the Santa Clara Stadium Authority. The $1.2-billion venue will have 1.85 million square feet, seat approximately 68,500 and feature 170 luxury suites and 9,000 club seats. It was designed to be a multi-purpose facility with the flexibility to host a wide range of events, including domestic and international soccer, college football, motocross, concerts and various civic events, and will be expandable for major events such as the Super Bowl, as GlobeSt.com previously reported. Levi's Stadium is owned by the Santa Clara Stadium Authority, a public joint powers authority that was established to provide for development and operation of Levi's® Stadium to ensure that the stadium serves the goals of the City of Santa Clara.