£400,000 funding for solar panel array in West Lindsey
Lincolnshire district leisure centre awarded sizeable government funding to help reduce energy bills and cut carbon emissions.
West Lindsey District Council has been awarded £401,500 from the government’s Swimming Pool Support Fund to install 545 solar PV panels on the roof of the West Lindsey Leisure Centre in Gainsborough.
Cllr Lesley Rollings (left) and Cllr Trevor Young (right) at West Lindsey Leisure Centre, photo courtesy of West Lindsey District Council
The installation is expected to produce 221 MWh of energy per year, and save the equivalent of 42 tonnes of CO2 emissions, akin to planting 1,966 trees.
The local council already has a policy of incorporating solar powerr in its buildings, where possible, in an effort to reduce ongoing costs and contribute to cleaner air in the region. In 2019, the council resolved to make its activities net-zero carbon by 2050.
Since then, the council and Everyone Active – the company that runs the leisure centre – have implemented various initiatives to reduce energy consumption, such as changing to more energy efficient equipment, including LED lighting, water-saving devices and lighting sensors, and reducing energy wastage through the installation of pool covers.
Everyone Active’s net zero strategy includes carbon literacy training and engagement for staff, and a goal to ensure that all its buildings are 100% powered by renewable energy.
Cllr Lesley Rollings, Chair of the Prosperous Communities Committee at the West Lindsey District Council, says: ‘The installation of PV panels not only aligns with the council’s commitment to sustainability but this investment will kickstart efforts to future-proof provision at the leisure centre, creating an eco-friendly facility.
‘The changes will reduce CO2 emissions and reduce energy bills ensuring the leisure centre remains a vibrant hub for recreation and wellness for residents of all ages across our district.’
Cllr Stephen Bunney, Chairman of the Environment, Sustainability and Climate Working Group at the council, adds: ‘The implementation of PV panels is a significant step towards reducing the leisure centre’s carbon footprint and simultaneously lowering energy costs. By harnessing solar energy, the centre will be able to generate clean electricity to power its operations, contributing to a greener and more environmentally friendly community.’
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