How Manchester City are harnessing the sun to find their next star | OneFootball

In the shadow of the Etihad, the hum of solar panels is quietly becoming part of Manchester City’s rhythm.

The Joie Stadium, home to City’s women’s team, now boasts a roof covered in nearly 3,000 solar panels – a gleaming testament to a club increasingly determined to power their footballing ambitions with the sun.

But this is about more than sustainability; it is about cultivating the next generation of stars. The electricity generated here will run the City Football Academy, fuelling training sessions, recovery rooms and analytics suites where tomorrow’s Phil Fodens, Nico O’Reillys and Rico Lewises are being moulded.

City’s solar programme is one of the most ambitious in world football. By the time the installation is complete across all academy buildings, over 10,000 panels will be generating clean, renewable energy. According to the club’s sustainability report, the system will offset the entirety of the academy’s annual energy consumption. Floodlights will glow, treadmills will hum and screens will flicker – all without drawing on fossil fuels.

It is a practical commitment, but also a philosophical one: a belief that elite football and environmental stewardship need not be mutually exclusive.

For City – who are currently 28th in the Pledgeball League – the initiative sits at the heart of wider sustainability ambitions. The club have pledged to reach net zero carbon by 2030, a target that encompasses operations from matchday waste to the food served in the academy’s canteens. As part of this, the solar rollout is complemented by compostable packaging, water-efficient landscaping and spaces designed to support biodiversity, from bees to bats. These are not merely decorative choices; they are a recognition that the environment the players train in has a tangible impact on their development.

For the young players navigating their early teenage years at the academy, this infrastructure matters. The same energy that powers the smart classrooms where tactical analysis is taught also drives pitch maintenance and performance monitoring equipment. In effect, the sun itself becomes part of the developmental ecosystem.

As Foden once emerged from these fields into global stardom, the club are investing in conditions that could help the next generation reach similar heights. O’Reilly and Lewis are contemporary examples of how early investment – in coaching, facilities and environment – can translate into first-team opportunities. City’s solar panels, in a quiet, unobtrusive way, are the latest layer of that investment.

The project is not merely an exercise in optics. It represents a measurable reduction in carbon emissions and a buffer against energy price volatility. The energy generated could even be redirected to the Etihad Stadium during peak demand, further integrating sustainability into the club’s wider operations. In the context of football’s global carbon footprint, City’s initiative stands out: few clubs anywhere in Europe operate a training complex powered so extensively by renewable energy.

The significance extends beyond the academy gates. Premier League clubs are increasingly recognising their environmental responsibilities, from travel policies to matchday operations. City’s solar programme positions the club as a leader, demonstrating that elite football can embrace green technology at scale while maintaining competitive advantage. It also sends a subtle message to young players: the world outside the pitch matters and innovation off it can be as influential as brilliance on it.

Of course, this initiative is not without its challenges. Manchester’s weather is famously grey and solar output will vary with the seasons. But by integrating the panels into a wider energy strategy – alongside efficiency measures and smart-grid management – City are confident that the academy will remain powered sustainably year-round. The long-term vision is clear: a self-sufficient, resilient environment that supports both footballing excellence and environmental stewardship.

In practice, that means that every sprint, pass and tactical drill is indirectly powered by the sun. As young prospects push themselves under the gaze of their coaches, the quiet energy of the panels above provides the electricity for their growth. The next Foden, the next O’Reilly, might be refining their first touch under a roof powered entirely by renewable energy, learning lessons about resilience, discipline and the interplay between performance and responsibility.

Manchester City’s solar ambitions are not just about green credentials. They are a tangible investment in the infrastructure that creates professional footballers. They remind us that the pathways to greatness are not only defined by coaching and talent but also by the environment that surrounds and nurtures it.

In this sense, the Joie Stadium roof does more than glint in the Manchester sunlight – it powers dreams, ambitions and the future of English football.