The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) have announced that the UK’s largest solar panel installation has been completed on the Principality Stadium.

3,296 solar panels, have been fitted to the stadium’s iconic roof by EvoEnergy, the UK’s leading renewable company, making it the largest such installation at any sports stadium in the UK.

The WRU say that the panels will “significantly decarbonise” the Principality Stadium’s operations through the production of clean energy, generating an expected 1.25 million kilowatt-hours of electricity each a year – enough to host a packed matchday at the home of Welsh rugby every day for seven weeks.

The panels are expected to reduce Principality Stadium’s carbon output by 219,791kg every single year, providing a substantial source of low-cost energy for the Welsh Rugby Union.

The solar installation is part of a wider package of sustainability measures aimed at decarbonising Principality Stadium’s operations.

The WRU is now developing a sustainability strategy, which will draw on all of its current and future efforts to drive decarbonisation across the whole of Welsh rugby.

“This marks a hugely exciting milestone, not just for Principality Stadium, but for the future of Welsh rugby,” WRU’s chief financial and operating officer Gavin Marshall said.

“As one of the most iconic sporting venues in the world, it’s right that we harness its scale and influence to drive positive change, benefiting our game, our fans and the wider community.

“While matchdays here will always be ignited by a sea of red jerseys, we’re proud that they will now be powered by clean green energy. Investing in innovative, sustainable energy solutions like solar is vital if we are to future-proof the stadium and play our part in creating a greener future.

“We’re not only reducing our carbon footprint but also strengthening the financial sustainability of the Union through the money we will save, creating long-term value that can be reinvested into Welsh rugby at every level.

“Through the publication of our sustainability strategy later this year, we’ll set out how initiatives like today’s contribute to a bold, practical plan to make Welsh rugby greener and more resilient for generations to come.”

The solar installation sit alongside other measures, such as the introduction of a well water abstraction system (which ensures clean drinking water is not wasted on cleaning or watering needs), rain-water harvesting, installation of LED lighting throughout the stadium.

The WRU have also committed to sustainable food procurement and to working with local charities to ensure surplus food gets distributed within vulnerable communities.

“As custodians of this iconic stadium, we have a responsibility to lead by example, and this solar installation is a significant technical and operational step forward,” Darren Crossman, WRU head of facilities and safety and sustainability, added.

“This project is about more than generating renewable energy, it’s about embedding sustainability into the way the stadium operates day-to-day, reducing our environmental impact and creating a more efficient, resilient venue for the future.

“We’re proud to bring this expertise to life at Principality Stadium and marking this first step in shaping a future sustainability strategy for Welsh rugby.”

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