When you think about football clubs investing in the future, your mind probably jumps to draft picks, coaching staff and high-performance facilities. But there’s another kind of performance upgrade happening behind the scenes – and it’s powered by the sun.
Hawthorn Football Club’s new home base at Dingley Village in Melbourne is a perfect example of how elite clubs are starting to treat renewable energy as seriously as they treat strength and conditioning. At the heart of the new Kennedy Community Centre is the Harris High Performance Centre – now topped with a commercial solar system designed and installed by Australian energy specialists Quality Energy.
This isn’t just a nice “green” story. It’s a glimpse into where professional sport is heading.
Why Sport Has a Massive Energy Problem
Modern clubs are energy-hungry. Think about everything that needs power at an elite facility:
- Indoor training fields and gyms
- Recovery zones, ice baths and hydrotherapy
- Video analysis suites and server rooms
- Lighting, HVAC and hot water across large buildings
Globally, stadiums and training centres are under pressure to cut emissions and energy costs. Studies show that major stadiums and elite venues are ideal candidates for on-site renewables like solar because of their big roof spaces, high daytime usage and long-term operating life.
We’re already seeing this around the world:
- The MCG in Melbourne now runs on 100% renewable electricity through a partnership with EnergyAustralia, cutting thousands of tonnes of emissions each year.
- In the US, at least 47 major league teams now use solar power in some form at their venues.
- European arenas like Amsterdam’s Johan Cruyff Arena combine solar, wind and battery storage to power matches and large events more sustainably.
Hawthorn FC’s new system slots neatly into this global trend – but with a local, practical twist.
Inside Hawthorn FC’s Solar Upgrade
When Hawthorn FC moved ahead with the development of their new base in Dingley Village, they engaged Ferguson Energy Consultants (FEC) to guide the energy strategy for the site. Acting as trusted advisors, FEC invited several reputable solar companies to propose solutions for the Harris High Performance Centre. Quality Energy ultimately won the project.
There was a catch, though: the facility was brand new, so there was no historical electricity bill data to size the system. On top of that, the club wanted to maximise value from Australia’s Small-scale Technology Certificate (STC) rebate scheme.
Despite those constraints, Quality Energy engineered a system that hits the sweet spot between performance, reliability and future-proofing:
- System size: 99.88 kW
- Solar panels: 227 x 440W Risen Energy N-Type modules
- Inverter: 1 x 110 kW Sungrow inverter
- Expected annual generation: ~123,858 kWh of renewable energy
- Estimated emissions avoided: ~87.32 tonnes of CO₂ per year – roughly the same as planting and growing 2,239 tree seedlings over 10 years
From a performance point of view, that’s serious output for a training facility. It’s enough clean energy to offset a huge chunk of the centre’s daytime consumption – everything from office operations to sports science equipment and climate control.
On the reliability side, the club isn’t just banking on short-term wins either. The project is backed by:
- 25-year solar panel product warranty
- 30-year panel performance warranty
- 10-year inverter warranty
That’s longer than many player careers – and it means the system is designed to deliver across multiple premiership windows.
Why Clubs Like Hawthorn Are Turning to Renewable Energy
So why are sports organisations putting real money behind projects like this? It usually comes down to three overlapping drivers:
1. Cutting Operating Costs
Electricity is one of the biggest controllable costs for large venues and training hubs. Studies on stadium renewables show that switching to on-site solar and other clean technologies can reduce operating costs by 25 to 40% over time, thanks to lower grid demand and more stable energy pricing.
For a club, that can mean:
- Less money spent on electricity
- More budget for coaching, facilities, women’s programs or community initiatives
- A hedge against rising energy prices over the next decade
Hawthorn’s 99.88 kW system is expected to significantly reduce annual electricity bills at the Harris High Performance Centre, freeing up resources for what really matters: performance on the field.
2. Hitting Sustainability and Community Goals
Fans increasingly expect their clubs to stand for something beyond wins and losses. Going green is now part of brand identity.
We’ve seen iconic venues like the MCG, West Ham’s London Stadium and NFL arenas invest heavily in renewables and sustainability initiatives as a way to lead by example, cut emissions and inspire fans to make changes in their own lives.
Hawthorn’s solar installation sends a clear message:
- The club is serious about climate and community impact
- The new Kennedy Community Centre isn’t just cutting-edge for players – it’s built for a low-carbon future
- Elite sport can be part of the solution, not just part of the problem
3. Future-Proofing New Facilities
When you’re building a brand-new home base that’s expected to last decades, it makes no sense to design around old energy thinking.
For clubs planning new training centres or stadium upgrades, timing becomes crucial – especially in markets like Australia where rebate schemes and incentive programs can dramatically improve the business case for solar. Knowing the best time to install solar panels can be the difference between a good investment and a great one.
What Other Clubs Can Learn from Hawthorn’s Approach
Hawthorn’s solar project offers a simple blueprint for other clubs – from elite organisations to semi-pro and community level:
- Start with expert advice. Hawthorn engaged specialist energy consultants first, then brought in experienced commercial solar engineers to design and deliver the system.
- Treat your venue like a long-term asset. Training grounds and stadiums aren’t three-year projects – they’re 30-year ones. Long warranties and quality gear matter.
- Think like a business, not just a team. Understanding the difference between industrial and commercial solar – and what’s appropriate for your facility – helps clubs invest at the right scale.
- Use sustainability as a fan engagement tool. When clubs talk openly about their environmental initiatives, fans notice. Green upgrades can sit alongside membership campaigns, community outreach and grassroots programs as part of a broader story about what the club stands for.
The Final Whistle
From the outside, the Harris High Performance Centre is a state-of-the-art football facility. Look a little closer, and it’s also a quiet clean-energy plant – generating over 120,000 kWh of renewable power every year and cutting tens of tonnes of emissions.
As more clubs follow Hawthorn’s lead, renewables won’t just be a “nice to have” – they’ll be part of the competitiveness equation. Lower costs, stronger brands, greener communities and future-ready facilities.
In other words: if you want your club to be on the right side of the scoreboard in 10 years’ time, it might be time to start looking up – at the roof.
