We are delighted that our entry – Energy Efficiency Project of the Year – for the Energy Managers Association awards has been selected for the Shortlist.

Our submission is in partnership with Crawley Borough Council and Everyone Active – SLM for their Solar Panel Car Port installation at the K2 Crawley leisure facility, which was funded by the Council and Sport England through the Swimming Pool Support Fund. Ren Energy were the solar installer. Fingers crossed for a win on the 6th November.

East Staffordshire Borough Council is pleased to announce that work has been completed on the installation of 393 solar panels at Uttoxeter Leisure Centre, following a £339,525 grant from Sport England’s Swimming Pool Support Fund.

This is following the successful installation of 600 solar panels at Meadowside Leisure Centre back in March.

The Swimming Pool Support Fund was created by the Government due to the increase in energy costs over recent years at leisure facilities and with the intention of both helping keep pools open in the face of financial challenges, as well as funding longer-term projects to help reduce future energy bills.

Leisure Energy were appointed as the Principal Contractor for the works across Meadowside and Uttoxeter Leisure Centres. The Council has been working closely with both Leisure Energy and Everyone Active throughout the installation process.

Across the installations at Meadowside and Uttoxeter, the environmental benefits are as follows:

•    28,000 kilograms of C02 emissions have been saved
•    The C02 emissions saved across both centres is equivalent to the planting of 1,766 trees
•    On average the solar generation for MLC has provided 48% of the building’s energy consumption during the last 6 months, with ULC solar generation providing 44% on average over the last 2 months.

Cllr Paul Walker, Cabinet Member for Tourism and Cultural Development, said: “I am pleased to see the Council working so closely with Leisure Energy and Everyone Active on the installation of solar panels at both Meadowside and Uttoxeter Leisure Centres. These solar panels will help reduce the carbon footprint of our leisure centres going forward, working towards the Council’s goal of making the Borough carbon neutral by 2050.”

Mike Worsnop, Strategic Director at Leisure Energy said “We were pleased to support East Staffordshire BC with the installation of the solar panels at the leisure centre. They will help to decrease the facility’s reliance on fossil fuels, lower its environmental impact and contribute to the borough’s and Everyone Active’s sustainability goals whilst futureproofing the building for generations to come”.

Dan Mclean, Everyone Active’s Area Contract Manager, said: “It is great news to have more onsite renewable energy generation, which will further reduce the centre’s carbon footprint going forward. Everyone Active is proud to work alongside the Council in meeting their net zero ambitions, which is the most important part of our own net zero strategy.”

Alliance Leisure, acting as Sandwell Council’s development partner and Leisure Energy, principal contractor, have begun works at Tipton Leisure Centre to deliver a Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) project that will lower running costs and carbon emissions.

The programme replaces ageing fossil fuel gas boilers with a unique sector leading air source heat pump solution, anchored by Leisure Energy’s Net Zero Pod®, alongside new air handling units and a pool heat exchanger. Once operational, the upgrades are expected to achieve a 100% reduction in annual gas consumption and cut around 200 tonnes of CO₂ per year.

Backed by £2 million of investment, largely from Government funding administered by Salix, the project is scheduled to complete by March 2026, supporting Sandwell Council’s commitment to become carbon neutral by 2030.

The Project team, appointed via the UK Leisure Framework (owned by Denbighshire Leisure Ltd), includes Leisure Energy Ltd (principal designer and contractor), Sandwell Leisure Trust (operator), Omega Design Consultants and ORSA Projects Limited.

Dave Spencer, Business Development Manager for Alliance Leisure commented: “Through the UK Leisure Framework, we’ve brought together a turnkey team to fast-track delivery and maximise carbon savings for the community facility.”

Matt Jones, Project Manager for Leisure Energy said: “With the installation of the Net Zero Pod®, this investment makes Tipton Leisure Centre greener and more resilient to energy price volatility, while helping progress towards the Council’s net zero ambitions.”

The Project team, appointed via the UK Leisure Framework (owned by Denbighshire Leisure Ltd), includes Leisure Energy Ltd (principal designer and contractor), Sandwell Leisure Trust (operator), Omega Design Consultants and ORSA Projects Limited.