Burnt Oak Leisure Centre has become the first council-owned building to host a community solar installation.
A total of 220 solar panels have been fitted to the roof of the leisure centre, with more than 70% of the electricity they generate expected to be used on site.
The 101.2kWp system is expected to save around £36,000 in energy costs and 241 tonnes of carbon over its estimated 20-year lifetime. The building will still use electricity from the national grid when needed.
Barnet Council contributed £15,000 through its Community Energy Fund, with further funding coming from the Greater London Authority and the Energy Industry Voluntary Redress Scheme.
Cllr Schneiderman, Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change, said: “The solar panels will reduce the leisure centre’s carbon emissions and energy costs. Through securing grant funding, we have achieved this at no cost to Barnet’s residents.”
Leisure centre backs lower-energy approach
Burnt Oak Leisure Centre is run by GLL in partnership with the council.
Jeremy Gould, National Sustainability Manager at GLL, said: “Leisure centres are energy-intensive buildings, so finding practical ways to reduce carbon emissions and energy costs is a real priority for us. Burnt Oak shows what can be achieved when councils, leisure operators and community energy organisations work together – generating clean electricity while creating wider benefits for the community.”
A community share offer is planned for next year, which could allow Burnt Oak residents to invest in the project. Community Energy Barnet is also looking at further potential solar installations elsewhere in the borough.
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