Although the Scale Up pursues synthetic turf pitches that will be future-proof and urban environments more climate-resilient, it also promotes ‘clean working’ practices and circularity as much as possible. Antea Sport has therefore partnered with Aendless Energy, SolarGround, GreenSand, Ecologisch Water Beheer (EWB), Husense, Pipelife Nederland, Middelkoop Advies and Arttenders. “This will provide us the expertise to generate and store the energy generated from synthetic turf, to reduce CO2 by extracting it from the atmosphere and capturing it in a mineral used in either the subbase or as a stabilizing sand, and to store water intelligently and even upgrade it,” Gosewin Bos of Antea Sport explains. “The group is complemented by experts in the fields of data and data collection, communication with both users and local residents, as well as drafting specifications and producing drawings.” With J&E Sport, this consortium will also benefit from having its inhouse installation and maintenance team. “The entire fleet of J&E Sport is electrically powered which is why we will be able to deliver these projects emission-free.” Asked about a specific innovation they will roll out, Bos says: “We certainly have a strong water proposition but will eventually also focus on energy. How we will do so, is something we can only reveal mid-2026.” Nevertheless, when asked whether both can be part of the same project, he lifts a corner of the veil. “We have plans to generate heat locally but without thermal energy storage (TES), and turn the field into a heat battery.”

No specific synthetic turf partner

The 90 artificial turf pitches that have been allocated to this consortium will comprise a mix of artificial turf for football, hockey, korfball or other applications. Above all, their pilot pitch will need to demonstrate what is possible. “Our aim is to showcase the interaction between the various innovations,” says Bos. Where the consortium has surrounded itself with at least one partner for every aspect, this does not apply to the a carpet supplier who will supply the synthetic turf.