Brazilian footballing legend Pelé today opened a groundbreaking football pitch, which uses the energy of players’ steps to generate electricity. The pitch is in the shantytown of Morro da Mineira in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The project shows how “renewable energy” technologies can be used to improve the lives of people all over the world.

Underneath the pitch are 200 tiles that are specially designed to capture the energy created by the movement of players. The energy is used to generate electricity and is combined with the power made by solar panels next to the pitch. When darkness falls, the electricity powers floodlights, so the shantytown’s children have a safe place to play. The technology was invented by PaveGen and the building of the pitch was financed by the energy company Shell.



The shantytown (locally known as a favela) of Morro da Mineira started to grow up in the early 20th century when people built makeshift homes on the hillside, which is close to central Rio. The shantytown suffers from high unemployment and crime. It was chosen as the site of the football pitch to inspire local children. Pelé, who scored more goals during his career than any other footballer, said: “This new pitch shows the extraordinary things possible when science and sport come together.”

Rio de Janeiro 10.9.14