Solar Panels for Leisure Centres: Harlow Leisure Zone Solar PV Project
Project Overview
Energy Gain was appointed to design and install a 700 kWp commercial rooftop solar PV system at Harlow Leisure Zone. The project was designed to reduce the site’s electricity costs, lower carbon emissions and improve the long-term sustainability of one of the area’s busiest leisure facilities.
With high daytime electricity demand from swimming pools, gyms, lighting and HVAC systems, the leisure centre was an ideal candidate for solar. The challenge was delivering the installation safely and efficiently while the site remained fully operational.
The Challenge
Although straightforward in principle, this project presented several logistical and engineering challenges that required detailed planning before work could begin.
Maintaining Normal Operations
The leisure centre remained open throughout the installation. Members continued using the gym, swimming pool and other facilities every day, meaning safety and minimising disruption were essential.
The client’s priority was simple: complete the installation without affecting staff, visitors or day-to-day operations.
Standing Seam Roof
The building featured a standing seam metal roof, which required a specialist mounting solution. Traditional fixing methods that penetrate the roof were not suitable, as they could compromise the roof’s weatherproofing and increase future maintenance risks.
Material Security
Large commercial solar projects require deliveries of solar panels, mounting systems, inverters and electrical equipment over several weeks. Leaving valuable equipment on site unnecessarily increases the risk of theft, particularly on publicly accessible sites.
Working Around a Busy Site
Vehicle movements, deliveries, contractors and members of the public all needed to be safely managed throughout the project while maintaining access to the building at all times.
Our Solution
Every aspect of the project was carefully planned before installation began.
A detailed programme of works was agreed with the client, allowing installation activities to be coordinated around the leisure centre’s daily operation. Regular communication between our site team and the client ensured any activities affecting access were planned well in advance.
For the standing seam roof, Energy Gain specified a non-penetrative mounting system designed specifically for this type of construction. The mounting brackets clamp directly onto the roof seams, removing the need to drill through the roof covering. This protects the roof’s integrity while providing a secure fixing for the solar array.
To minimise the risk of theft, equipment deliveries were carefully scheduled to match the installation programme. Materials were delivered only when required, reducing the amount of valuable equipment stored on site. Secure storage arrangements and effective site management further reduced risk throughout the project.
Working areas were clearly separated from public access routes and deliveries were carefully coordinated to ensure the leisure centre could continue operating without disruption.
The result was a safe, well-managed installation completed with no impact on the day-to-day running of the leisure centre.
Engineering Insight
Every commercial roof presents different design considerations, and selecting the correct mounting system is just as important as designing the solar PV system itself.
Before installation, our engineers completed a structural assessment of the roof to confirm it was suitable for the proposed solar array. This assessment helped determine the most appropriate mounting solution, panel layout and load distribution across the building.
Using a non-penetrative standing seam mounting system provided several advantages:
- No drilling through the roof covering
- Maintains the roof’s weatherproofing
- Reduces long-term maintenance requirements
- Faster installation compared with traditional fixing methods
- Provides a secure fixing designed specifically for standing seam roofs
Careful consideration was also given to cable routes, inverter locations, maintenance access and future servicing requirements to ensure the completed installation performs efficiently throughout its lifetime.
Why Solar is Ideal for Leisure Centres
Leisure centres are among the best commercial buildings for solar PV because they consume large amounts of electricity during daylight hours.
Swimming pools require continuous heating, filtration and pumping systems, while gyms, changing rooms, lighting and HVAC systems operate throughout the day. Many leisure centres are open from early morning until late evening, creating a consistent demand for electricity when solar panels are generating the most energy.
Using more of the electricity on site increases self-consumption, helping reduce electricity bills, lower reliance on the National Grid and improve the financial return from the installation
Project Results
The completed solar PV system now generates renewable electricity directly on site, reducing both operating costs and carbon emissions while supporting the client’s sustainability objectives.
Project Statistics
- System Size: 700 kWp
- Solar Panels Installed: 1609
- Annual Generation: 601 MWh
- Annual COâ‚‚ Savings: 126 Tonnes
- Lifetime COâ‚‚ Savings: 2961 Tonnes
Project at a Glance
Item | Detail |
Sector | Leisure |
Client | Harlow Leisure Zone |
Roof Type | Standing seam metal roof |
Installation Type | Commercial rooftop solar PV |
Mounting System | Non-penetrative standing seam clamps |
Building Operational During Works | Yes |
Public Access Maintained | Yes |
Business Disruption | None |
Structural Assessment | Completed before installation |
Site Security | Managed deliveries and secure material storage |
Health & Safety | Full RAMS and method statements |
Looking to Install Commercial Solar?
Energy Gain has extensive experience delivering commercial rooftop solar installations across the leisure, education, industrial and commercial sectors.
Whether your building has a standing seam roof, flat roof or pitched roof, our team can design a system that maximises energy generation while working around the operational requirements of your business.
If you’re considering commercial solar, contact Energy Gain for a free feasibility assessment and discover how much your organisation could save on its energy costs.
