POWERgrass' innovative hybrid solution is a combination of optimal performance and sustainability. But how can a sports field be defined as sustainable?
From an economic point of view: the solution promises greater usability, safety during gaming and minimal maintenance costs, ensuring up to 30 hours of gaming per week, which represents the real usage requirement. The total cost, including construction, maintenance and dismantling, is equal to or lower than a synthetic pitch with rubber, thanks to a longer lifespan and amortization period, which is estimated to be more than 20 years, more than double that of a traditional synthetic pitch.
From a social point of view: the solution allows the acquisition of new skills for ecological maintenance, paving the way for a deeper understanding of the principles of ecological agriculture, without the use of pesticides and with a limited use of synthetic fertilizers. In addition, the result principle introduced by the new procurement code requires monitoring of the field throughout its useful life, implying the need to train new technicians who can carry out periodic checks on its characteristics.
From an environmental point of view: considering the size of an 11-a-side sports pitch, it is necessary to fulfill the 6 EU environmental objectives according to the Green Taxonomy defined by EU Regulation 852 of 2020. Therefore, to achieve environmental sustainability it is necessary to have a positive impact on at least one of these objectives and not cause significant damage to the other five. It is worth noting that a municipal engineer may not be an environmental expert, but in general terms he or she should be able to determine whether the expected impact is positive or negative. The POWERgrass system makes a significant positive contribution to each of the six environmental objectives.