Pele Unveils New Football Pitch In Brazilian Favela Which Uses Players’ Energy To Produce Electricity (Photos)

Chris Wright

12th, September 2014

1 Comment

By Chris Wright

Brazil Kinetic Soccer

Brazilian football icon Pele has helped unveil a brand new artificial football pitch in one Rio de Janeiro’s poorest neighbourhoods which can harness the energy produced by players’ movement in order to generate electricity.

Funded by the Shell oil company, the newly-refurbished pitch in Rio’s Morro da Mineira favela now uses 200 kinetic tiles to harness energy produced the players moving around on top of it as well as using solar panels to power six of its own LED floodlight to keep the arena safely and economically illuminated into the evening.

After officially re-opening the pitch, Pele said:

“I thought we were inaugurating another artificial pitch but I didn’t expect that this field could produce energy – it’s the first in the world!

“Football is Brazil’s biggest passion and the sport has gone through so much technological innovation since the last time I played.

“This new pitch shows the extraordinary things possible when science and sport come together.”

According to the Daily Telegraph, the pitch will generate 80% of its energy using the solar panels, while in the evening 100% of the energy will come from the underground tiles.

Here’s a few more photos of Pele doing his thang…

Brazil Kinetic Soccer

Brazil Kinetic Soccer

Brazil Kinetic Soccer

As you may or may not recall, Adidas pioneered a similar self-sustaining pitch scheme a year or so ago, though their specially-rigged “Power Pitch” was only used as part of an advertising campaign for their then-new Nitrocharge boot line.

We’re glad to see the technology finally being put to an altogether more worthy use.

Suggested further viewing…

40 Brilliant Photos Of Football Being Played In The Favelas And Slums Of Brazil

Posted in Newsnow, Photos, South America

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1 Comment

  1. Porcelain Sandwich says:

    I can’t help but notice that all of these pictures are of Pele acting like a deity and looking a bit Kim Jong Un-ish, rather than the pitch itself.

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