In early 2025, St Ives Leisure Centre, operated by Greenwich Leisure Ltd, partnered with Natural Generation to install a large-scale solar PV system.
The goal was to reduce reliance on grid electricity and lower the centre’s substantial energy costs, while also supporting their sustainability targets. Here's how we achieved it...
The Solar System We Installed
We designed a tailored solution to maximise energy generation across the leisure centre’s complex roof layout:
- 203 kWp PV system covering 900m²
- 451 x 450W JA Solar glass/glass panels for enhanced resistance to wind and salt mist
- 3 x 66.6kW SolarEdge Synergy inverters for efficient energy conversion
- 1.5 km of K2 Solar mounting rail to accommodate the intricate roof design
The system was installed with the support of Alternergy and City Electrical Factors, and Hewaswater Scaffolding provided safe and effective access to the roof.
For this project, we installed 451 x 450W JA Solar traceable panels with glass/glass construction. Unlike standard panels that have a plastic backsheet, glass/glass panels sandwich the solar cells between two layers of toughened glass, providing exceptional durability and resistance to harsh weather conditions.
This design is particularly important here in Cornwall, where our coastal winds, salty air and occasional storms can shorten the lifespan of conventional panels. The glass/glass construction not only increases the panels’ structural strength but also reduces the risk of corrosion from salt mist; ensuring reliable performance and long-term energy generation even in challenging coastal environments.
Our Solar Design Engineer Laura Greenish explains; "The curved roof at St Ives presented a unique challenge, particularly as it is curved in two directions. I decided to place the panels in small groups, so that they could fan out across the curve of the roof. Making sure that my model matched up with the real roof, and that all the panels would fit on correctly, required plenty of teamwork between myself and our expert roofing team, and showed how much we benefit from having the design and installation teams fully in-house. All in all it was a really interesting design to work on, definitely the most satisfying project to see through from the first design ideas all the way through to seeing it completed on the roof!"
The Benefits of Going Solar
The new solar PV system is already making a tangible impact for St Ives Leisure Centre:
- Annual generation: 193,985 kWh
- Grid export: 52,174 kWh/year
- Own power consumption: 73.1% of generated energy used onsite
- Carbon savings: 38.7 tonnes of CO2‚ emissions avoided each year
- Energy cost reduction: 39.1% lower electricity bills
Over the August bank holiday alone, the leisure centre generated 2.7MWh of solar energy, saving 477.9kg of CO2‚ emissions and supplying 70% of their energy needs during peak season!
By generating a significant proportion of their own energy, St Ives Leisure Centre is saving money and reducing its carbon footprint, all while providing a model for other community hubs to follow.
A Smooth, Professional Installation
This solar installation project presented logistical challenges due to the size and complexity of the roof, but our experienced team handled it with their usual expertise and care.
The installation was completed on schedule, with minimal disruption to the leisure centre’s day-to-day operations.
Thinking About Solar for Your Building?
Whether you manage a leisure centre, school, or other large-scale facility, solar panels can deliver significant energy savings, carbon reductions, and long-term sustainability benefits.
Contact Natural Generation today to explore how a custom solar solution could work for your building.
