Choosing renewable energy

Lighting the stadiums, welcoming spectators, timing the athletes, broadcasting their sporting achievements around the world… for all of this, energy supplies are essential. And for the Games, Paris 2024 is choosing a different approach by focusing on renewable electricity, connecting the venues to the public network.

Reducing energy consumption

To organise more responsible Games, reducing their carbon impact and consumption, all aspects of the event are covered. In terms of energy, the Paris 2024 facilities will be more efficient. In both the existing stadiums and the temporary venues, the lighting systems installed or replaced will consume less energy thanks to the use of LED technology, delivering an -80% reduction compared with standard lighting. The electrical equipment will also be limited to what is essential: fewer plugs, less printers, smaller screens… Small changes that make a big difference on the scale of the Games.

At the Aquatics Centre, the building is designed to optimise energy consumption, for both the Games and its future use: the concave shape of its roof makes it possible to reduce the volume of air to be heated by 30%, while the water in the pools will be kept at 28°C by a system to recover heat from the neighbouring data centre. Alongside this, photovoltaic panels installed on the roof will cover around 20% of the building’s electricity needs.

The construction and renovation projects, accelerated by the dynamics of the Games, will also open up opportunities to provide communities with more energy-efficient infrastructures, through better insulated buildings and innovative solutions such as geothermal power or heat recovery.

Connecting all the Games venues to the electricity network

It might not have been widely known to the public, but to avoid any risk of power cuts, many stadiums had to use generators for their events. For the Games, Paris 2024 is choosing a different approach, focused on setting up supplies through the public electricity network. This challenge, which requires existing connections to be linked up or secured for all the sports venues and facilities welcoming members of the public, has been successfully met with Enedis, an Official Supporter. Thanks to this work for instance, the matches at the Stade de France will be supplied directly with electricity through a reliable network rather than using diesel generators. Following the Games, these new connections will benefit other events as well, helping reduce the sector’s carbon emissions.

For the Games, Place de la Concorde has been equipped with a system of retractable electric terminals installed below the road surface by Enedis, enabling a direct connection to the electricity network. This innovative and sustainable system will also be installed at other temporary venues, such as Place du Trocadero, and certain celebration venues. Following the Games, these event terminals will offer a legacy for the communities, promoting more responsible events.

Sourcing renewable energy

To supply the venues connected to the electricity distribution network, Paris 2024 is choosing 100% renewable electricity generated in France, sourced from six wind farms and two solar farms. EDF, a Premium Partner, will supply the same quantity of electricity to the electricity network as that consumed by the Games venues. This approach is the first of its kind in the history of the Games.

The Games are also an opportunity to innovate and test new solutions: various projects for temporary self-consumption electricity production will also be trialled during the event.

During the Games, two innovative installations rolled out at the Village will cover part of the athletes’ electricity consumption:

• A photovoltaic carport, over nearly 1,000m2, will be set up at the bus station and supply the international delegations' reception and information centre with self-generated electricity.
• A 400m² floating mobile solar farm on the Seine will produce the equivalent of the consumption of around 30 two-bedroom apartments in the Village. These temporary installations aim to inspire change and will be reused elsewhere following the event.

- 80% reduction in energy-related carbon emissions compared with a “standard” model for sports events using diesel generators

Limiting the use of generators

Generators will be back-up power supply solutions for venues connected to the electricity network: they are not intended to operate unless there is a power cut for instance, to help ensure that the competitions run smoothly. They will also be used for specific and ad hoc requirements, where a connection to the network is not justified. These generators will be supplied by the GL Events – Loxam group, an Official Supporter of the Games, and the vast majority will use biofuels to reduce pollution emissions.