Nearly 1,000 solar panels have been installed at three North Yorkshire leisure facilities in a move that is set to reduce energy costs by hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Panels have been placed on the roofs of Active North Yorkshire sites in Ripon and Thirsk, as well as Whitby Leisure Centre.
The upgrades at the three of our owned sites are expected to provide considerable savings by cutting energy bills, which can be invested in other key services, while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Funded by the council and Great British Energy’s Mayoral Renewables Fund, York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority have delivered the project which reinforces the shared ambition to become a carbon negative region by 2040.
Council leader, Cllr Carl Les, said: “This is positive news. It is important that we continue to make this county a more environmentally friendly place to live, work and visit.
“One way of achieving that is by improving the efficiency of our public buildings and homes by embracing green technology and renewable energy, and we are carrying out significant work in this area.
“The installation of nearly 1,000 solar panels at these sites will help us generate energy more cheaply, reduce the amount we pay on our bills, and allow these savings to be invested in other areas of need across North Yorkshire.”
A total of 265 solar panels have been installed at Active North Yorkshire Ripon – The Jack Laugher Centre, with a further 149 now in place at Thirsk and Sowerby Leisure and Wellbeing Hub.
More than 400 panels have also been added at Whitby Leisure Centre, which is currently operated by Everyone Active and is set to become part of Active North Yorkshire next year.
It is estimated that the panels at the three sites could contribute combined savings of nearly 2,000 tonnes of carbon emissions and more than £2 million in electricity charges over the next 25 years*.
Funding was allocated for panels to be installed on a total of 16 community buildings across the region by Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, David Skaith, following a £1 million grant by Great British Energy.
David Skaith, mayor of York and North Yorkshire, said: “Lowering bills and improving our environment means that 16 of our region’s community buildings, such as these facilities in Ripon, Thirsk and Whitby, will spend less on energy and more on what matters – supporting people.
“Through the Mayoral Renewables Fund, we are moving in the right direction, towards becoming the first region in England to reach carbon negative by 2040. It’s a big goal, but it’s one we can reach one step at a time all while supporting our communities right across York and North Yorkshire.”
The installation of the panels at the council-owned sites in Ripon, Thirsk and Whitby was overseen by a contractor, BCS Group. The operations director of BCS Group, Adrian Veitch, said: “We are delighted to be working with North Yorkshire Council and helping to support the environmental and financial sustainability of these leisure centres.
“We take great pride in our work, and supporting the communities we live and work in is important to us as we want to have a positive impact.
“The installation of the solar panels will reduce the costs of the running of these fabulous centres. Ultimately, it will have a positive impact for the public and support the running of these vital community facilities – it is a pleasure to be involved.”
In November last year, we approved a multi-million-pound investment that will see a total of £36 million invested in four key sites – including Whitby - as part of a new leisure investment strategy.
The funding will focus improving Active North Yorkshire sites in Selby and Skipton, as well as centres in Pickering and Whitby that are currently operated by Everyone Active. The Pickering and Whitby sites are due to become part of Active North Yorkshire in 2027.
An additional £3 million is to be invested in a phased programme to upgrade gym and fitness equipment across a further 12 leisure sites overseen by us.