A stadium full of energy - Interview with Jean-Marc Guinchard, president of the Fondation du Stade de Genève

Last modified by the author on 12/06/2019 - 17:49
A stadium full of energy - Interview with Jean-Marc Guinchard, president of the Fondation du Stade de Genève

The Geneva stadium is at the heart of the future PAV (Praille-Acacias-Vernets) district. In a few years' time, the entire region will radically change its appearance to become a modern area for living, working and leisure. An ideal place for synergies between the people involved in this new area. It is in this context that the Fondation du Stade de Genève and Services industriels de Genève (SIG) have developed an innovative and promising partnership. Jean-Marc Guinchard, president of the Fondation du Stade de Genève, explains. 

 

The Geneva stadium has joined forces with SIG to create a participatory solar power plant. What does each of the two partners get from this collaboration?

For SIG, I think this is a great opportunity to raise public awareness, especially among tenants, of clean, non-fossil energy, as they have the opportunity to acquire one or more solar rings to reduce their electricity bills. For the Fondation du Stade, it’s about making this infrastructure even better known to the people of Geneva - it belongs to them - and to show that it can cover 30% of their electricity consumption.

 

The people of Geneva can acquire plots of the new power plant. Do you think people will be real interested in this?

The latest SIG operation for a participatory power plant showed that the people of Geneva were interested, since many of them were unable to purchase the solar panels put up for sale. In 48 hours, over 1,500 m2 of solar panels on the stadium roof were sold. So there is a very clear interest.

 

The Stade de Genève is located in an area that is likely to change significantly. Do you think that other synergies will be possible in the future with other companies in the region? Do you have any leads yet?

The development of the Praille - Acacias - Vernets sector over the next 30 years will focus on housing and job creation. Synergies are therefore possible in the long term, either on the roofs of rental buildings or on those of companies. For the time being, the Stadium is considering making an inventory of other spaces on its own facilities. Other opportunities remain open as future building work develops.

 

Interview by C. Tonoli for Genie.ch.

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