Leisure Centre Cuts Costs and Carbon

South Oxhey Leisure Centre in the district of Three Rivers, near Watford, is a flagship community facility within the Everyone Active portfolio, offering a gym, fitness studios, café, and a newly developed 25‑metre swimming pool. The centre’s redevelopment significantly improved services for local residents but also resulted in a substantial increase in electricity demand.

Leisure centres are among the most energy‑intensive public buildings. Extended opening hours, high footfall, electrically powered equipment, HVAC systems, lighting, and the energy demands of a swimming pool all contributed to rising operational costs. These pressures were exacerbated by ongoing volatility in energy prices, creating a long‑term financial risk for the facility.

Recognising the need to protect public services from escalating energy bills while reducing environmental impact, Three Rivers District Council sought a renewable energy solution that would support Everyone Active’s operations. The project was funded by Three Rivers District Council and procured via a competitive tender process, requiring a solution that balanced technical performance, reliability, sustainability, and best value.

Following a competitive procurement exercise, Geo Green Power was awarded the contract, outperforming 13 other bidders. The tender was won on the basis of a high‑quality technical proposal combined with best‑value delivery, demonstrating Geo Green Power’s expertise in deploying complex solar PV solutions within budgetary and operational constraints.

A key challenge within the project was to maximise energy generation output while working with a specified inverter capacity and fixed funding budget. Geo Green Power’s design team carefully optimised the system layout to ensure the highest possible performance without exceeding cost limits or system constraints.

The final solution was a 145kWp roof‑mounted Solar PV system, strategically designed to align with the centre’s energy profile. The system includes:

• 320 Canadian Solar 455W high‑efficiency PV modules
• 1 SolarEdge inverter, offering advanced system management and reliability
• 162 SolarEdge optimisers, allowing individual panel optimisation to mitigate shading and improve overall system output

The system was installed with minimal disruption to the leisure centre’s daily operations, ensuring continued service to customers throughout the build phase.

The completed installation delivers significant financial, operational, and environmental benefits for South Oxhey Leisure Centre.

Key Results:

Annual Energy Generation: ~133,000 kWh of clean electricity.

Carbon Reduction: ~25.7 tonnes of CO₂ saved per year.

Lifetime Savings: Approximately £457,000 in reduced electricity costs over the system’s lifetime.

By generating a substantial proportion of its electricity on‑site, the leisure centre has reduced its reliance on grid power, shielding itself from long‑term energy price volatility. The installation directly supports Everyone Active’s sustainability commitments while helping Three Rivers District Council deliver long‑term value from its investment.

The project demonstrates how carefully considered solar design can overcome technical constraints, optimise performance, and deliver excellent value for publicly funded facilities.

Joanna Hewitson, Three Rivers District Council’s Climate Change and Sustainability Manager, said:

“I am pleased with the amazing and professional work Geo Green Power has done to the South Oxhey Leisure Centre, which will help in significantly reducing its carbon emissions. Not only will these solar panels chip off about £457,000 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.”

The South Oxhey Leisure Centre project highlights Geo Green Power’s ability to deliver high‑performance renewable energy solutions within complex public‑sector frameworks. Through intelligent system design, value‑driven engineering, and proven delivery capability, Geo Green Power helped transform rising energy demand into a long‑term opportunity for cost savings and carbon reduction.

For leisure centres facing increasing operational pressures, this project provides a strong example of how solar PV can support financial resilience while contributing to a more sustainable future.