Pioneering solar project at Rugby leisure centre wins energy efficiency award
A pioneering solar energy project at the Queens Diamond Jubilee Leisure Centre in Rugby has scooped a top prize at the West Midlands Energy Efficiency Awards.
The project, which involved the installation of 378 solar panels at the Queens Diamond Jubilee Leisure Centre, which is operated by charitable social enterprise GLL, won the Small Scale Project of the Year award.
In its first 12 months of operation, the system has generated enough energy to power around 55 households for a year – and is expected to save over £1million in energy costs over its lifetime.
GLL Facilities Manager Paulo Gomez said: “We’re thrilled to receive this award, which recognises not only the investment in our facilities but also our long-term commitment to environmental stewardship.
“This project demonstrates how leisure centres can lead the way in creating greener, more efficient community spaces. This award highlights the collective effort of our teams and partners to bring sustainable innovation into the heart of public recreation.
“It is rewarding to see the impact the system is already having, both for the environment and for operational efficiency.”
The project was funded by Sport England and installed by Rugby solar company M E Solar.
M E Solar owner Rob Melbourne said: “It was a fantastic opportunity as a local company to deliver a project of this scale to another local business which, like many across the country, faces the difficult challenge of increasing energy costs.
“With the support from Rugby Borough Council and the amazing staff from the leisure centre, we were able to deliver a fantastic system that will help reduce these costs and benefit the environment”.
Coun Maggie O’Rourke, Rugby Borough Council’s portfolio holder for Partnerships and Wellbeing, added: “The success of the installation aligns with Rugby Borough Council’s broader sustainability goals, which include investing in renewable technologies, enhancing energy resilience, and reducing carbon emissions across the estate.”
Now in their 12th year, the Energy Efficiency Awards aim to recognise leadership in practical delivery, collaboration and professionalism.
Awards chairman Gary Braybrooke said: “The organisations and individuals recognised through these awards are operating in a period of real uncertainty in the sector. Despite that, they continue to deliver, to innovate and to hold standards high.
“These projects and people show that working together – across supply chains, local authorities and communities – remains the most powerful way to deliver meaningful, lasting change.”