KRC Genk to become first CO2-neutral stadium in Belgium

In 2015, the Cristal Arena produced 1,100 tons of CO₂. This should be reduced to zero through smart heating, more efficient cooling and the installation of 400 solar panels on the roof, said the club.

Construction works start later this year and expectations are that the adjustments will quickly lead to a decrease of the electricity and gas consumption by 30%. “Our stadium is 20 years old and so not exactly a good example of sustainability,” said KRC Genk’s general director Patrick Janssens, the previous mayor of Antwerp. “We have been thinking for a while of how to change this and have now found a good partner in EDF Luminus.”

Football fans in Genk will also get tips on how to save energy at home and reduce their ecological footprint. The project follows in the footsteps of such football temples as the Amsterdam Arena, London’s Wembley Stadium and the  Commerzbank Arena in Frankfurt.