AEG and STAPLES Center held a celebratory event marking the completion of its Bloom Energy fuel cell technology deployment today. Former Vice President Al Gore joined executives from AEG, Bloom Energy, Green Sports Alliance and the City of Los Angeles to "Flip the Switch" on the recently installed Bloom Energy fuel cells that will provide on-site generation to STAPLES Center. The 500 kW fuel cell project will generate power through a clean and efficient electrochemical process, providing approximately 25% of the power required by the sports and entertainment venue each year. The Bloom Energy Servers will also reduce STAPLES Center's carbon emissions by 2.2 million pounds of carbon annually, a 39% reduction compared to electricity purchased from the local utility.
The purchase of the new technology for the downtown Los Angeles sports and entertainment arena furthers STAPLES Center's reputation as "the most efficient arena in the world." This project contributes to the sustainability goals created by AEG, owners of STAPLES Center, as part of the organization's corporate environmental sustainability program, AEG 1EARTH, and the mission to reduce the company's environmental impact and drive business value through sustainability for all company assets including more than 100 venues affiliated with its AEG Facilities division.
"It is our hope and intention that our commitment to developing these critical programs and initiatives would challenge and inspire constituents in our industry and extending to our partners and our stakeholders in the cities where we do business all over the world," said AEG CEO & President Dan Beckerman.
"This most recent investment in this highly efficient Bloom technology is another piece of the puzzle that we believe makes STAPLES Center one of the most efficient arenas not only in this country, but in the world," commented STAPLES Center & L.A. LIVE President Lee Zeidman.
"There is no more urgent ecological issue than reducing our alliance on fossil fuels. AEG's addition of fuel cells to its clean energy mix at STAPLES Center is another important example of the company's longstanding leadership in moving the sports industry towards responsible environmental stewardship," said Dr. Allen Hershkowitz, Green Sports Alliance President.
"Bloom is thrilled to be here and celebrate this occasion with Al Gore, and we look forward to many future NBA, NHL and other 'Bloom powered' events here at the STAPLES Center," said KR Sridhar, CEO and co-founder of Bloom Energy.
In addition to the Bloom Energy fuel cells, STAPLES Center has a 346 kW rooftop solar array, which has helped power events with renewable energy for the past seven years, and nearly 500 waterless urinals have saved the City of Los Angeles more than 2.3 million gallons of water annually. In 2014, STAPLES Center became the first U.S. NHL arena and first NBA arena to use specially developed LED sports lighting which save approximately 1,250,000 kWh of electricity each year.