To generate its own energy, the London Stadium will soon have multi-million dollar solar panels installed.
It has been revealed that the 2012 Olympics stadium, which is currently the home of West Ham United, will be covered in a solar membrane to cut down on carbon emissions.
The project is anticipated to cost £4 million over the first two years, but after five years, it is expected to break even.
The work could begin on the east London site later this year, per the planning documents.
The London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC), a body established after the 2012 Games to oversee the development of the area around the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford, claims that the structure could then begin producing energy by the end of 2024.
According to the installation contract for the project, the plan presents a "fantastic opportunity to showcase cutting edge technology.".
It also stated that reducing carbon emissions significantly was the project's "key driver" in order to meet the mayor of London's commitment to make London a "zero carbon" city by 2030.
Sadiq Khan praised the idea, and City Hall agreed to contribute £45,000 to a feasibility study and business case for the initiative.
According to the most recent budget documents from LLDC, the new technology could produce about three million kilowatts of power annually.
"It's great to see such an iconic building, the source of so much national pride, leading us into our greener future," said Stuart Dossett, senior policy advisor at the environmental think tank Green Alliance.
"Solar energy can be installed quickly to produce affordable and eco-friendly energy to power our structures. We can reduce costs and carbon emissions faster if we increase the use of renewable energy, he said.
