Another council-owned leisure centre sees solar success

The council’s contractor, Geo Green Power, recently successfully installed 320 solar modules on the rooftop of South Oxhey Leisure Centre in Gosforth Lane. The new solar array is expected to generate approximately 133,000 kWh (kilowatt-hour) of clean electricity annually, which is enough to power about 49 average UK homes a year. This renewable energy investment will cut estimated 25 tonnes of carbon emissions each year, supporting local and national climate goals.

Joanna Hewitson, Three Rivers District Council’s Climate Change and Sustainability Manager, said: “I am pleased that the South Oxhey Leisure Centre has joined its sister building, William Penn Leisure Centre in Mill End, in reducing its carbon emissions. Not only will these solar panels chip off about £475,000 in energy costs over their 30-year lifespan, but it is also expected to achieve a full payback within just five years.

“As the energy market continues to be unpredictable, it was important that our leisure centre had homegrown electricity so that it is shielded from potential price shocks, which we would otherwise face if we continued to use fossil fuels.

“This project represents a key milestone in the councils’ ongoing commitment to sustainability, resilience, and responsible energy management, while ensuring that vital community facilities remain efficient and cost-effective to operate.”