North Yorkshire leisure centres set for lower energy bills

Nearly 1,000 solar panels have been installed on three leisure facilities in North Yorkshire, with council estimates pointing to more than £2 million in electricity savings over 25 years.

The panels have gone onto Active North Yorkshire sites in Ripon and Thirsk, alongside Whitby Leisure Centre. The work is intended to reduce running costs at public leisure buildings while cutting greenhouse gas emissions from energy use.

North Yorkshire Council says the savings can be directed back into other services, although the exact annual financial benefit will depend on future electricity prices, generation levels and site demand.

Three leisure sites now have rooftop solar

The installation covers council-owned leisure facilities across Ripon, Thirsk and Whitby. Together, the sites are expected to generate cheaper electricity for day-to-day operation of gyms, pools and wellbeing facilities.

Whitby Leisure Centre is currently operated by Everyone Active, but is due to become part of Active North Yorkshire next year. The council has also said Pickering and Whitby sites are scheduled to transfer into Active North Yorkshire in 2027 as wider leisure changes continue.

More than £2 million in projected electricity savings

The council estimate is long range: the three sites could together save nearly 2,000 tonnes of carbon emissions and more than £2 million in electricity charges over 25 years.

That figure is a projection, not a confirmed cash saving already achieved. Solar output can vary with roof layout, weather, maintenance, electricity tariffs and how much power each building uses during daylight hours.

Even with those caveats, leisure centres are among the public buildings where energy demand is usually high. Pools, lighting, ventilation, heating and gym equipment can all make these sites expensive to run, so generating power on site can reduce exposure to market energy costs.

Council leader Cllr Carl Les said the installation would help North Yorkshire generate energy more cheaply, reduce bills and invest savings in areas of need across the county. He also linked the work to improving the efficiency of public buildings and homes through renewable energy.

Mayoral Renewables Fund paid for wider rollout

The project was funded by North Yorkshire Council and Great British Energy’s Mayoral Renewables Fund. York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority has delivered the programme as part of a wider regional plan to become carbon negative by 2040.

Funding was allocated for solar panels on 16 community buildings across the region after Mayor of York and North Yorkshire David Skaith directed money from a £1 million Great British Energy grant.

Skaith said community buildings such as the facilities in Ripon, Thirsk and Whitby should be able to spend less on energy and more on supporting people. He described the fund as one step towards the region’s carbon negative target.

The installations at the three council-owned sites were overseen by contractor BCS Group. Operations director Adrian Veitch said the panels would reduce the cost of running the centres and support facilities used by the public.

Leisure investment is already planned for Whitby

The solar work sits alongside a separate leisure investment strategy approved by the council in November last year. That plan includes £36 million for four key sites, including Whitby, with funding focused on Active North Yorkshire sites in Selby and Skipton as well as centres in Pickering and Whitby currently run by Everyone Active.

A further £3 million is due to be spent in phases on gym and fitness equipment upgrades across 12 additional leisure sites overseen by the council.

For residents, the immediate change is unlikely to be visible inside the buildings. The practical effect is expected to sit in the operating budgets: lower electricity demand from the grid, smaller long-term energy bills and a reduced carbon footprint for leisure services that are costly to heat, light and maintain.

Source: North Yorkshire Council