Sefton Council Commercial Solar Installation Case Study
Project Overview
Energy Gain was appointed to expand the existing solar PV system at Meadows Leisure Centre in Maghull for Sefton Council. The project involved the installation of an additional 80kWp commercial rooftop solar PV system, increasing the site’s renewable energy generation capacity and reducing reliance on electricity from the National Grid.
Meadows Leisure Centre is a modern multi-use community facility operated by Sefton Council, providing swimming pools, fitness facilities, sports activities, a gym, sauna and steam rooms, alongside a public library. With significant daytime electricity demand from leisure operations and building services, the facility was an ideal candidate for increased onsite solar generation.
The installation supports Sefton Council’s wider sustainability strategy by helping reduce carbon emissions, improve energy efficiency and deliver long-term energy cost savings across its public buildings.
The Challenge
Expanding a solar installation at an operational leisure centre required careful planning, detailed engineering and effective coordination to ensure minimal disruption to staff, visitors and daily activities.
Maintaining Leisure Centre Operations
Meadows Leisure Centre remained open throughout the project, with swimming facilities, fitness activities and community services continuing as normal.
The key challenge was completing the solar PV expansion safely while ensuring visitors and staff could continue using the facility without disruption.
Integrating With an Existing Solar System
Unlike a new installation, this project required Energy Gain to expand an existing solar PV system while ensuring the additional capacity worked effectively alongside the current infrastructure.
The design needed to consider existing electrical systems, available roof space, system compatibility and long-term performance.
Working Around an Active Public Facility
Public buildings require careful management of contractor access, deliveries, lifting operations and health and safety procedures.
Installation activities were carefully planned around the leisure centre’s operating schedule to maintain a safe environment for employees, contractors and visitors.
Supporting Local Authority Sustainability Goals
Sefton Council required a solution that would provide measurable carbon reductions while helping control future energy costs.
The expanded solar system needed to maximise renewable electricity generation onsite while supporting the Council’s commitment to operating more sustainable public facilities.
Our Solution
Every stage of the project was carefully planned to ensure the solar expansion could be delivered safely, efficiently and with minimal disruption.
Energy Gain worked closely with Sefton Council to expand the existing solar PV system at Meadows Leisure Centre with an additional 80kWp of rooftop solar capacity. Detailed planning considered system design, electrical integration, installation sequencing and the operational requirements of the facility.
The expanded system now generates additional renewable electricity directly onsite, reducing the amount of electricity required from the National Grid and improving the leisure centre’s long-term energy efficiency.
By increasing onsite renewable generation, Sefton Council can reduce operational carbon emissions, lower energy costs and improve resilience against future electricity price increases.
The project was delivered with a strong focus on safety, quality and reliability, ensuring the solar installation continues to provide clean energy throughout its operational lifetime.
Engineering Insight
Leisure centres are particularly well suited to commercial solar because they have high electricity demand throughout the day when solar generation is at its strongest.
Swimming pools, filtration systems, heating, ventilation, lighting and fitness facilities all require significant electricity consumption, creating an opportunity to maximise onsite use of renewable energy.
Before installation, Energy Gain considered key engineering factors including:
• Existing solar system integration
• Available roof area and system positioning
• Solar generation potential
• Electrical infrastructure requirements
• Cable routing and inverter locations
• Future maintenance access
• Safe installation methodology
Expanding an existing commercial solar system requires careful engineering to ensure additional capacity improves performance while maintaining reliability and efficiency.
For public sector buildings such as leisure centres, maximising onsite electricity generation helps reduce operating costs while supporting wider carbon reduction commitments.
Why Solar is Ideal for Leisure Centres
Leisure centres are among the strongest candidates for commercial solar due to their consistent electricity demand.
Swimming pools, gyms, sports facilities, lighting and building management systems typically operate throughout daylight hours, aligning closely with solar generation periods.
By generating renewable electricity onsite, leisure centres can:
• Reduce electricity costs
• Lower carbon emissions
• Improve energy security
• Support local authority sustainability targets
• Reduce reliance on grid electricity
• Demonstrate commitment to sustainable public services
Solar also provides councils and leisure operators with greater control over future energy costs while helping achieve long-term net-zero objectives.
Project Results
The expanded commercial solar PV installation now generates clean electricity directly at Meadows Leisure Centre, helping Sefton Council reduce energy costs, lower carbon emissions and improve the sustainability of its public facilities.
The additional 80kWp solar PV system is expected to generate approximately 65.7MWh of renewable electricity annually, reducing reliance on imported grid electricity. Over its operational lifetime, the installation is forecast to generate approximately 1,460MWh of clean electricity and save around 319 tonnes of COâ‚‚ emissions.
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Project Statistics
System Size: 80kWp additional solar PV capacity
Installation Type: Commercial rooftop solar PV expansion
Annual Generation: 65.7 MWh
Lifetime Generation: 1.54 MWh
Annual COâ‚‚ Savings: 14 Tonnes
Lifetime COâ‚‚ Savings: 319 tonnes
Looking to Install Commercial Solar?
Energy Gain specialises in delivering commercial solar installations for local authorities, leisure centres and public sector organisations across the UK.
From initial feasibility assessments through to design, installation and commissioning, our team helps organisations reduce energy costs, lower carbon emissions and achieve their sustainability objectives.
If your organisation is considering commercial solar, contact Energy Gain to understand how much renewable energy your building could generate.
