Qatar recently opened and operated an 800MW photovoltaic power plant, which can offset half of the carbon emissions generated by the 2022 FIFA World Cup hosted by Qatar.
The Al Kharsaah photovoltaic power plant will reduce Qatar's carbon emissions by 1.8 million tons in 2022. The power plant has been put into operation in October this year, covering an area of about 10 square kilometers, equivalent to 1,400 football fields. In its first year of operation, the photovoltaic farm is expected to generate nearly 2,000GWh of electricity, equivalent to the electricity consumption of approximately 55,000 Qatari households.
According to a survey report published by a research institution in 2021, Qatar will generate about 3.6 million tons of carbon emissions in 2022. The government said it would collect data during the World Cup, update carbon inventory reports and adjust offsetting strategies accordingly. While approximately 50% of the carbon emissions from the World Cup events will be offset by photovoltaic farms, Qatar’s Supreme Committee for Delivery and Heritage (SC) will also reduce another 1.5 million tons through carbon offset projects approved by the Global Carbon Council.
Over the past 12 years, Qatar’s Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC) has worked with FIFA and the Organizing Committee of the World Cup 2022 (Q22) to prioritize climate action, as reflected in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. ongoing strategy. World Cup organizers have pledged to hold a carbon-neutral event, with measures including free public transport for fans, cancellation of domestic flights, green buildings, waste recycling and the adoption of electric vehicles.
Yasir Al Jamal, Director General of Qatar's Supreme Council for Delivery and Heritage (SC), said: "Achieving carbon neutrality for the 2022 World Cup is a national effort. We are proud of the large number of projects we have built to help the Qatari government achieve this goal, from A wide range of green building practices (including building the first fully dismantled stadium in the history of the FIFA World Cup), to projects related to waste recycling and the use of electric vehicles.
Reduced carbon emissions from the Al Kharsaah photovoltaic farm will help offset carbon emissions from hosting the inaugural FIFA World Cup in the Middle East and the Arab world, underscoring Qatar's commitment to environmental sustainability and setting the stage for future mega-events set a benchmark. "
Organizers of the 2022 World Cup are listing all unavoidable carbon emissions, including flights for fans, players, officials and media.
Eng. Bodour Al Meer, Executive Director of Sustainability at the Qatari Supreme Council for Delivery and Heritage (SC), said: “Our carbon reduction strategy covers all areas of preparation for the 2022 World Cup. Hosting the first carbon-neutral World Cup in history will be a A major achievement that will help advance the environmental agenda in Qatar, the Middle East region and globally. We thank our stakeholders for their strong support and commitment to making this happen."
