Low Carbon unveils solar installation to help power the British America’s Cup team with renewables
- The installation, designed and created by global renewable energy company Low Carbon consists of 42 solar panels
- This is the second time that Low Carbon has partnered with the British America’s Cup team, building upon a successful partnership during the 35th America’s Cup in Bermuda in 2017
- During the winter months, the system has already shown the potential to create enough energy to power 50% of the teams on shore operation
Low Carbon has unveiled an innovative solar installation to help power the base of the INEOS Britannia sailing team with renewable energy for the 37th America’s Cup in Barcelona. The system, consisting of 42 solar panels which were provided by Trina Solar, in collaboration with global renewable energy company Low Carbon. Each panel has a potential solar generation capacity of 670W per hour. This is equivalent to generating approximately 50 kWh per day, enough energy to power a range of equipment at the team base, including the race boat batteries and simulator. Across the year, the installation could help avoid six tonnes of CO2e.
The solar installation took inspiration from the system Low Carbon implemented for fellow high-performance sailing team ‘Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team’. That specific installation, the first of its kind, consists of 38 solar panels and two micro wind turbines that are completely mobile and travel around the world to SailGP events. It was installed in June 2023 and has so far produced 2,484kWh of energy, helping power the operations of Emirates GBR and other SailGP teams.
In December, during COP28, Low Carbon and Emirates GBR released their Portable Off-Grid Power Blueprint, to encourage other sports teams and industries to incorporate renewable energy into their operations. The Blueprint provides organisations with the knowledge, information and contacts needed to adopt renewable energy.
The base in Barcelona has been designed and built using the blueprint guidelines and with sustainability at the forefront, in line with the Barcelona Agreement. The agreement, managed by the Barcelona Port Authority, covers several key points including, net zero construction, operation and end-of-life.
Low Carbon previously partnered with the British America’s Cup team during the 35th America’s Cup in Bermuda in 2017, where they donated 194 solar panels with support from the Stempel Foundation to the National Museum of Bermuda to offset the energy used by the team while competing for the Cup. The panels produced enough power to cover all the energy used by the team in Bermuda, and will continue providing power to the island for at least another 25 years. The installation has also been a valuable educational resource for local school children about the importance of renewable energy in building sustainable island communities.
Sir Ben Ainslie, Team Principal and Skipper of INEOS Britannia said: “We are very happy to once again be working with Low Carbon to make our operations during this America’s Cup campaign in Barcelona as sustainable as possible. The solar panels can currently produce 50% of the power used by the team and so as we progress throughout the year we hope to be able to take our operations off-grid. Our project with Low Carbon in Bermuda is a huge success story and we are excited to work together on something similar in Barcelona, to ensure we not only tread lightly on the city but also leave a lasting legacy.”
Roy Bedlow, Chief Executive and Founder of Low Carbon, said: “We are delighted to be supporting the British America’s Cup team’s aim to maximise renewable energy and achieve energy independence while in Barcelona this year. This will not only mitigate the climate impact, but also showcase what is possible to achieve at major sporting events and in other industries who are trying to reduce grid demands. We wish Sir Ben and all of the team the greatest success in the 37th Americas Cup; let’s bring the Cup home.”
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ABOUT INEOS BRITANNIA
Backed by INEOS Founder and Chairman Sir Jim Ratcliffe and led by the most successful Olympic sailor of all time and America's Cup winner, Sir Ben Ainslie, INEOS Britannia is the Challenger of Record for the 37th America’s Cup. The British team, who will race for Royal Yacht Squadron Ltd, was formed in 2014 before joining forces with INEOS in 2018.
In challenging for a third successive America’s Cup, INEOS Britannia has much needed continuity, the cornerstone of every successful America’s Cup team. It will be the first time a British team has competed in three consecutive Cup cycles since Sir Thomas Lipton and the Royal Ulster YC bids between 1899 to 1930.
The America’s Cup, the pinnacle of yachting, was first contested in 1851 in Cowes, Isle of Wight and organised by the Royal Yacht Squadron, predating the modern Olympic Games by 45 years. However, the race boats have come a long way since the days of sleek monohull schooners cruising at speeds around 10 knots.
The new AC75 race boats are the most technologically advanced sailing boats ever created, and the most exciting. No longer are the boats kept standing by a keel. Instead, Foil Cant Arms move under the boat to provide the leverage it needs to stay upright. At the end of the arms are the teams’ secret weapons, the foil wings, which provide the stability, lift and speed when racing.
The Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup will take place between August and October 2024 in the beating heart of beautiful Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia and one of the most visited cities on planet Earth. what promises to be one of the most intense America’s Cups in the event’s 174-year history.
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