This year’s Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix is set to be the greenest in the Bahrain International Circuit’s (BIC) 19-year history, with plans in place to further reduce future races’ carbon impact.
The BIC announced this in a statement yesterday during the second day of racing at the Bahrain Grand Prix, adding that the BIC’s new solar farm has generated 5.28 megawatts of clean energy – more than enough to cover the electricity required for the annual F1 Grand Prix.
“Analysis from BIC’s solar energy partner IREC Energy shows that BIC’s solar farm has produced 5.28MW of clean energy, enough renewable energy to cover all of the circuit usage for F1 with significant capacity to spare, the equivalent of offsetting 3,108 tonnes of carbon,” a BIC spokesperson added in a statement.
“Renewable energy at circuits is a key part of how F1 will meet its Net Zero goal – in addition to the continued transition to more sustainable energy sources across its operations from 100 per cent sustainable fuel in cars by 2026 to more efficient logistics operations through to on-site generator requirements.”
The solar farm at the BIC is also set to be expanded, according to the announcement, ultimately delivering enough clean energy to power BIC’s entire energy consumption for the whole year.
Construction on the expansion will commence ‘soon’, according to the BIC, and will mean result in the circuit being powered 100pc by clean energy.
The Sakhir circuit has also undertaken a series of building management initiatives to make its energy usage more efficient.
“In the last 12 months, BIC has undertaken a number of measures to reduce energy consumption,” the statement added.
“This has included a new building management system that efficiently monitors and manages light and air conditioning provision, an upgrade to more efficient air conditioning chillers and the replacement of all street and building lighting to LED lights.
“BIC’s combined energy saving measures will save more than 30pc in energy use during this year.”
The circuit has also upgraded its recycling facilities, working with Urbaser to increase the number of segregated waste bins across the paddock and public areas.
They have also introduced a special composting machine that enables fans in public areas to dispose of waste food in a dedicated composting machine. Bin collections by Urbaser are done using electric scooters.
As the GDN reported yesterday, the BIC has also introduced water refilling stations across the vending area in the ongoing Bahrain Grand Prix, which is due to conclude this evening.
“A major new element for 2023 is the introduction of water dispensers in fan areas, where fans can fill up their reusable water bottles with free drinking water, thus saving on plastic water bottle usage,” the BIC spokesperson explained.
In addition, BIC is also finding ways to recycle waste oil and steel.
To monitor the energy savings and audit carbon offsets, the BIC has partnered with SEE Institute, a sustainability-focused specialist advisory company, which will deliver new best practices for the circuit and also manage areas of measurement and carbon accounting.
“The measures we have put in place this year, combined with our ambitious plans on expanding our solar facility, as well as other plans for the future, will help ensure we support F1 and the government in Bahrain in their net zero targets,” BIC chief executive Shaikh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa added.
F1 sustainability head Ellen Jones also expressed pride in the achievements of the Formula 1 Gulf Air Grand Prix, adding that it demonstrates the direct action the parent body is looking for from its promoters in Formula 1 as they continue towards their goal of being carbon-neutral by 2030.
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