Bingham Town Sports Club (BTSC) is now saving thousands on energy costs thanks to solar panels installed earlier this year, with support from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).
The panels, installed in May 2024, have enabled the club to pass on lower costs to all the sports clubs that use the facilities and improve access to sports locally.
The installation has resulted in zero costs for appliances that run continuously, such as fridges, and CO2 equivalent savings are predicted at 16 tonnes per annum.
Rushcliffe Borough Council (RBC) allocated over £23,000 of UKSPF funding to the project, which was equally matched by the sports club, for the purchase and installation of solar panels, a battery, and an inverter.
Rushcliffe-based solar panel specialists Geo Green installed the panels and battery storage system alongside the club’s existing wind turbine, enabling them to produce and store more of their own clean, green energy.
One of the 67 teams that regularly use the facilities at the sports ground is Bingham Outlaws, an inclusive squad catering to children, young people, and adults with physical, developmental, behavioural, emotional, social, and sensory needs.
RBC’s Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Leisure & Wellbeing, ICT & Member Development, Cllr Jonathan Wheeler, joined the Mayor of Bingham, Cllr Gareth Williams, BTSC Club Chair Steve McRobie, and BTSC Treasurer Pete Kennedy at the club, where local football team Bingham Outlaws were training.
Cllr Wheeler said:
“We’re really pleased to support BTSC with the installation of these vital solar panels, which have already proven to save thousands in energy bills, enabling all the sports teams to train and compete at a much lower cost.
“It’s helped to make it more accessible to all players, whether they’re playing cricket, football, or any other sport!
“By using the solar panels, the club will save the equivalent of around 16 tonnes of CO2 per annum, helping to decrease their carbon footprint. It also aligns with the Council’s Carbon Clever priorities to become a carbon-neutral Borough by 2030.”
Steve McRobie said:
“Over the past six months, we’ve saved 13,700 units of electricity, with a percentage of that sold back to the grid. All of this has made a huge difference to our energy bills, and over the summer period, we were over 60% self-sufficient, which was brilliant.
“We’re pleased with the solar panels, and importantly, by extending lower costs to the clubs who use the grounds, it’s helped to attract new members to take part in football and cricket.
“It’s benefited the whole community. Thank you to RBC and also to Bingham Town Council for their continuing support.”
Mayor of Bingham, Cllr Gareth Williams, added:
“We are delighted to see the cost and CO2 savings that will benefit this great community asset for years to come.”
