The previously derelict pitch was already a key part of life for local residents of Morro da Mineira, but Shell has refurbished it with 200 underground tiles that converts and stores the kinetic energy of players into electricity.
This is combined with solar-generated energy and used to power the overhead floodlights.
The project, which took 18 months was unveiled last night (September 10) in Rio, with Pelé on-hand to give his support.
He said: "Football is Brazil’s biggest passion and the sport has gone through so much technological innovation since the last time I played.
"This new pitch shows the extraordinary things possible when science and sport come together," he added.
The initiative is part of Shell’s #makethefuture programme, which has been devised to encourage young people to consider science and engineering as a career, and in particular develop new means of producing renewable energy.
Client: André Araujo, country chair, Shell Brazil
Agencies: JWT London, Mediacom, Possible, Edelman
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