Doha, November 27 (QNA) - Al Thumama Stadium, one of the eight stadiums for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, whose competitions continue until Dec.18, is witnessing the use of innovative solar panel technology (SunPave) installed in the stadium's surrounding area to serve the fans.

SunPave was among the Challenge 22 innovation award winners, a program delivered by the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC) in preparation for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 to support businesses and entrepreneurs in the Arab World who could boost the fan experience during Qatar 2022 through their innovative and creative ideas.

SunPave panels, which operate with the same efficiency as regular solar energy panels, are designed for floor and wall use to generate electricity. Al Thumama Stadium was chosen to install solar panels as a pilot project for the innovative technology in light of the stadium's achievements in terms of environmental sustainability.

The rest of the World Cup stadiums will witness the installation of innovative panels after the championship.

Fans attending FIFA World Cup matches at Al Thumama Stadium are able to charge their devices at a state-of-the-art solar-powered charging station from the SunPave panels in the vicinity of the stadium.

Al Thumama Stadium Project Manager Eng. Khalifa Al Mana said that the installation of SunPave tiles in the World Cup stadium embodies the SC's commitment to be environmentally sustainable in the tournament's facilities and sites to build a legacy that will benefit future generations, and reflect the country's future after the World Cup.

For his part, SunPave Co-Founder, Eng. Mohammed Al Gammal expressed his happiness with the installation of solar panels in the vicinity of Al Thumama World Cup Stadium. "We are delighted to have installed the panels in the stadium precinct and are proud to see fans using them during the World Cup," he said.

"We believe our product has many advantages. By creating solar panels people can walk on, we can utilize vast spaces around the country to generate electric power," he added.

"The story of a modern city is often a competition between energy and space," said Al Gammal. "We need energy to power our lives and, as cities grow, we have less space. The problem with conventional solar panels is that the space they occupy becomes virtually unusable. With SunPave, we can utilize the strength of the sun without sacrificing space," he continued.

(QNA)