Technoeconomic Feasibility of Renewable Energy Systems for Sporting Stadiums

The 2024 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote d'Ivoire highlighted the substantial energy demands of major sporting events, traditionally met by conventional, and nonrenewable sources. This study investigates the technoeconomic feasibility and environmental benefits of integrating solar and wind energy systems into the six stadiums used for the 2024 AFCON to enhance sustainability, long-term economic benefits, and reduced carbon emissions. Utilizing the hybrid optimization of multiple electric renewables (HOMER) software for simulation and optimization, and the engineering equation solver for mathematical modeling, this study assesses the energy demand and potential renewable energy contributions for stadiums in Abidjan, Yamoussoukro, Bouake, Korhogo, and San Pedro. The findings reveal that grid purchases dominate the energy mix across all cities, with varying contributions from solar and wind energy. Abidjan achieves 20.1% renewable energy penetration, while San Pedro reaches 69.9%. The proposed hybrid renewable energy systems offer substantial economic benefits, including payback periods of less than 2 years and high internal rates of return (IRR), with surplus energy generated in some locations potentially sold back to the grid. Additionally, the environmental impact assessment indicates an estimated annual CO2 reduction of 6518.25 metric tonnes cumulatively, equivalent to planting similar to 2.17 million trees over 20 years. This study provides a detailed technoeconomic analysis, demonstrating the viability of hybrid wind-solar systems in large sports venues and contributing valuable insights for future implementations of renewable energy technologies in the sports infrastructure sector.