The Formula 1 (F1) Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix (GP) 2023 and Singapore Tourism Board (STB) have taken initiatives to transform the race event into an environmentally sustainable street circuit.
These include generating cleaner energy, going digital for greater resource efficiency, improving waste management, and reducing single-use plastics. The installation of solar panels on the rooftop of the F1 Pit Building have also been completed, while installations for a more energy-efficient lighting system at the night race underway.
The 1,396 solar panels on the rooftop are expected to generate energy that is sufficient to power the F1 Pit Building for an entire race month – this includes providing the power for the F1 Paddock Club suites, Race Control Room, Media Centre, garages, as well as the administrative offices. Excess solar energy will be sold to the grid to offset the facility’s utility costs.
Work is now underway to install a more energy-efficient track lighting system for the remainder of the term until 2028. LED track lights will replace the existing metal-halide projectors to illuminate the 4.928km-long race track, while the old lights will be given new life as recycled art, and will feature at an art exhibition in September.
The new lights will require significantly less power per fitting, consume at least 30 per cent less electricity than the previous bulbs, and do not require any warm up time to reach their full luminance.
In addition, the new ArenaVision LED floodlights are designed to provide optimal lighting conditions for drivers, F1 fans, media and broadcasters – the lighting system will provide visual clarity, effective heat management, and have a long lifespan.
Ong Ling Lee, executive director, sports and wellness, STB, commented: “This is an important milestone because it will reduce the carbon footprint of the race, as well as all other events that use the F1 Pit Building beyond the race period. Sustainability is a key priority for the Singapore race, and we will continue to work with Singapore GP and our partners to make our race more sustainable.”
“We are excited to kick off our sustainability efforts for the new term and we look forward to drive change at the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix. More initiatives are currently being planned for the night race, and we will be announcing these, as well as the results of our carbon footprint report from last year’s event in the coming weeks,” said Sasha Rafi, director of sustainability, Singapore GP.
