Construction is finished for Japanese architect Toyo Ito’s solar powered stadium in Taiwan. The stadium’s roof is covered by 8,844 solar panels. The stadium is located in Kaohsiung, Taiwan and it was built to coincide with the opening of the World Games, to be held this July.

The ‘World Games Stadium’ holds 55,000 spectators and it cost $150 million to build. The stadium will hold the record for largest solar-powered stadium in the world with it’s 14,155m2 roof. It could potentially generate  1.14 Gigawatt hours of electricity every year, enough to power up to 80% of the surrounding neighborhood.

From Swiss Solar Systems:

‘The new, architecturally impressive sports arena is also Taiwan’s largest photovoltaic installation to date – fitted with solar modules manufactured by the Taiwanese company Lucky Power Technology Co., Ltd. using machines and know-how from 3S Swiss Solar Systems AG, Lyss. The stadium is the world’s biggest sports facility powered with its own solar electricity.

The Japanese architect Toyo Ito planned the ultra-modern stadium in accordance with the ecological requirements of a ‘Green Building’. 8,844 solar panels on a surface area of 14,155m2 are integrated into the roof construction of the sports facility. The unique solar roof, which emulates the form of a flowing river, can, depending on the strength of the sunshine, cover 75% of the energy needs of the stadium which can hold 55,000 spectators. On days when no competitions are taking place, the electricity generated is fed into the grid. The new stadium is the main venue for the competitions of the World Games 2009. International athletes from more than 90 nations will be competing against each other next June under the impressive roof construction that is simultaneously a solar power station.

The Taiwanese module producer Lucky Power Technology Co., Ltd. which supplied the special modules for the huge construction project is a longstanding customer of 3S Swiss Solar Systems AG. The solar modules for the stadium in Kaohsiung were manufactured on a production line comprised of a fully automatic stringer from the Somont company, a manual lay-up station and a fully automatic laminating line from 3S Swiss Solar Systems AG as well as a fully automatic module tester from the Pasan company. Apart from the production equipment, 3S Swiss Solar Systems AG also and above all supplied important know-how. ‘With 3S as our partner, we not only have outstanding production equipment,’ says Mr. Henry Hu, General Manager of Lucky Power Technology Co., Ltd., ‘The Swiss company’s in-depth knowledge of module production and their experience in the field of integrated photovoltaics have enabled us to become the leading Taiwanese module supplier, especially for such demanding projects.’

The ‘green’ stadium project is enjoying a great deal of positive resonance in Taiwan and the entire Asian region. The major project combines in an impressive manner the ecological demand, alternative energy production and high architectural quality.’

Learn more about the World Games and this outstanding stadium: www.worldgames2009.tw.