Olympic pools could be heated by solar power

London Olympic chiefs are looking into powering the Games with the help of a solar-powered roof on the aquatics centre.

The Olympic Delivery Authority is in talks with Balfour Beatty, the builder of the venue, over installing photovoltaic panels in the wave-shaped roof.

This could provide enough energy to heat the two 50-metre pools and the diving pool, and supply power to other venues.

ODA planners are debating whether the benefit to the self-proclaimed "greenest Games ever" would outweigh the cost.

The aquatics centre will be the first venue to officially break its budget, as the cost has tripled to £214 million.

The roof alone - which will double as a bridge to form the gateway to the Olympic Park in Stratford - will cost about £60million. However, Olympics chiefs hope Zaha Hadid's design will be the jewel in the architectural crown of the Games.

ODA chairman John Armitt told a construction industry conference this week of plans to tap sustainable energy sources, including a 120-metre wind turbine at Eton Manor and an energy centre in the park with biomass boilers burning woodchips delivered by barge. These would provide 20 per cent of the Games's energy.

Mr Armitt said the use of solar power was "under consideration".

The ODA is expected to sign contracts with Balfour Beatty within weeks, after which more detailed plans will emerge. These include temporary wings either side of the aquaticscentre to provide 14,500 seats. After the Games, these will be dismantled to leave a permanent capacity of 3,000.

The £72million aquatics centre for this summer's Games in Beijing will use solar energy to heat the pools and spectator area, reducing its energy requirements by 30 per cent.

Backwash water will be filtered and returned to the pools.