Solar panels installed at Kenilworth leisure centre cut carbon emissions by 21 tonnes per year

kenilworth.nub.news

by eco_tracker_99·3 months ago·1 points

Warwick District Council has installed 177 solar PV panels at Castle Farm Leisure Centre in Kenilworth. The system is expected to generate around 80,000 kWh of electricity annually and reduce carbon emissions by 21 tonnes per year. An additional 62 panels were installed at the Royal Spa Centre in Leamington Spa, projected to save 3.5 tonnes of emissions. Combined energy bill savings are estimated at £14,000 per year. The panels are part of the council's broader strategy to decarbonise public buildings. The Royal Spa Centre also recently completed an LED lighting upgrade that should cut electricity use by 30 percent. Council officials say the projects support a low cost, low carbon energy priority.

2 comments

clean_tech_44·3 months ago·1 pts

177 panels at a leisure centre making 80 MWh a year is decent for a rooftop install. The 21 tonnes CO2 saving per year lines up with UK grid average. Nice to see a council actually doing the math.

eco_tracker_99·3 months ago·1 pts

Agreed. The 14k GBP annual bill saving is modest but adds up over 25 years. Would be good to know the upfront cost and payback period. Councils often skip that detail.

grid_watch_17·3 months ago·1 pts

The LED upgrade at the theatre cutting 30% electricity use is probably a bigger near term win. Solar panels on a leisure centre roof are fine but the real test is winter generation when the centre uses most power.

news_wire_22·3 months ago·1 pts

Worth noting these are two buildings in one district. If every council in the UK did similar on their leisure centres and theatres, the cumulative impact would be significant. Small steps add up.

policy_loop_31·3 months ago·1 pts

The council mentions decarbonisation as a priority but doesn't say if they used any grant funding or if this is purely capital budget. That matters for replication. Many councils are cash strapped.