Low Carbon powers the Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team with a first-of-its-kind renewable energy installation
Bespoke renewable energy installation from Low Carbon aims to power the Emirates GBR Team to victory in the SailGP Impact League and inspire others on the journey to net zero
Global renewable energy company Low Carbon and the Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team have announced the latest innovation in their partnership to further increase the team’s use of clean energy. The bespoke renewable energy installation has been created with the ambition of taking the team’s entire race operations off-grid. The innovation has been unveiled in Chicago as Season 4 gets underway and Emirates GBR stakes its claim to become the most sustainable elite sports team in the world and win the SailGP Impact League.
While Sir Ben Ainslie’s crew harness the power of wind and waves in the ocean, back on land, Low Carbon’s ground-breaking renewable energy installation will ensure that Emirates GBR’s onshore operations capture all the energy needed to power the British Team’s on-land operations using renewable energy sources.
The renewable energy system, designed by Low Carbon’s engineers working in partnership with the Emirates GBR team, is made up of wind turbines and solar panels totalling up to 16kW. Combined this has the potential to provide enough clean energy to power nearly 13,000 fridge-freezers for a whole day – the equivalent of a reduction of 4 tonnes of CO2e. The installation will travel with the team’s base to all locations across the upcoming season calendar as it looks to emulate last season’s success of making the podium in the SailGP Impact League, which tracks the positive actions teams make to reduce their carbon footprint and promote inclusivity in sailing.
As part of their collaboration with Emirates GBR, Low Carbon is also a partner to the team’s charity, the 1851 Trust. Low Carbon and the Trust work together on the climate change education programme, Protect Our Future, which aims to inspire more than 5 million young people to take climate action by pursuing careers in STEM subjects. During the Season 3 Grand Final in San Francisco last month, Low Carbon and the Emirates GBR team convened its largest Protect Our Future session to date with 100 pupils from local schools, business leaders and climate experts. Further activities to promote climate change education are planned at events across the globe for the upcoming season.
Roy Bedlow, Founder and Chief Executive of Low Carbon and a Trustee of the 1851 Trust, said: “Low Carbon was founded with the mission to make the biggest impact we can in the fight against climate change. We are excited to work with Sir Ben and the whole team who have repeatedly shown leadership as passionate climate champions. We hope that by publicly embracing renewable energy as a key component of their winning formula, we can help create a blueprint for the future of sustainable elite sport.”
Sir Ben Ainslie said: “As a team we are dedicated to making the biggest positive impact we can on the planet. For us, winning the SailGP Impact League is just as important as securing the Championship title. We are excited to be working in partnership with Low Carbon on this first-of-its-kind renewable energy installation that will bring us even closer to our goal of net zero and show how innovation is driving us to make a difference for our planet.”
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ABOUT LOW CARBON:
Low Carbon creates large-scale renewable energy to fight climate change. We’re building a net-zero energy company that will protect the planet for future generations.
This defining purpose drives us to deliver for our communities, investors, and the environment.
We are a long-standing certified B-Corporation and recognised as gold standard for our environmental impact. We invest in, develop, and operate large-scale renewable energy projects across the globe. We’re contributing to the world’s move to 100% renewable energy, by creating 20GW of new capacity by 2030.
Low Carbon is on a mission. Together, we will power tomorrow.
ABOUT THE GREAT BRITAIN SAILGP TEAM:
SailGP races for a better future, championing a world powered by nature. The sport’s pinnacle league, SailGP features national teams battling in short, intense races at iconic stadium-style venues across the globe, building to the grand final – and sailing’s top prize of US$1 million. The high-tech, high-speed action features sailing’s best athletes racing in identical supercharged F50 catamarans, flying at electrifying speeds exceeding 60 mph/100 KM/H. Visit SailGP.com for more information.
Ben Ainslie holds the majority ownership of The Great Britain SailGP Team which is using its platform to change the sports sponsorship model in order to bring together groups of like-minded companies, who want to collaborate and accelerate change for a wider purpose. The Great Britain team are also committed to accelerating gender equality across the sport with the teams Athena Pathway Programme run by Hannah Mills – the most successful female Olympic athlete in the world of sailing, and IOC Sustainability Ambassador.
SailGP teams are supported by Race for the Future partners who share their personal values and commitment to deliver impact for a better future. The Great Britain teams Race For The Future Partner is the 1851 Trust’s Protect Our Future platform which aims to empower young people with the scientific knowledge to combat climate change.