Grant-funded solar for a Hessle sports club
Hessle Sporting Club is a much-loved community club in Hessle, just west of Hull. See more
solar panels in Hull. Clubs like this run on tight budgets, and running a clubhouse all year round adds up to large energy bills. The club wanted to cut those costs for good and put the savings back into the people who play, coach and volunteer there.
The challenge
The main hurdle was money, not the roof. Like most community clubs, Hessle Sporting Club couldn’t pay for a commercial-sized system out of reserves. The project was
grant-funded, with
payments released in stages. That meant we had to plan the work and the paperwork carefully, so each milestone was finished and recorded before the next payment came through.
Technically, the clubhouse has a good
pitched roof with room for a sizeable array. The design needed to make the most of that space while keeping within the club’s three-phase supply and the network operator’s rules.
What we installed
We installed a
21.6 kWp system made up of
48 × Aiko 450 W panels, mounted
above the roof on a pitched-roof rail system. Aiko panels are high-efficiency modules, so the club gets plenty of generation from the space it has.
The array feeds a
Solis S5-GR3P20K 20 kW three-phase inverter, which is a reliable workhorse that matches the club’s supply. The club decided not to add a battery. Clubhouses use a lot of power during the day and early evening, so most of the solar is used on site, and any surplus is exported.
Timeline
- Grant secured: funding agreed, with payments in stages
- Design and installation: panels and inverter fitted, with each stage signed off in line with the grant
- April 2025: system commissioned and handed over to the club
Results
The system is
estimated to generate about 15,432 kWh a year. That’s a design estimate, and actual output will vary with the weather. We haven’t published a savings or payback figure for this project. Every kilowatt-hour the club uses from its own roof is one it doesn’t have to buy from the grid, and that money can go back into sport.
The install is covered by our
24-month workmanship warranty, as well as the manufacturers’ product warranties.
Help for clubs, charities and community groups
If your club is thinking about solar, see our
commercial solar page or
commercial solar in Hull, find out about
solar panels in Hessle, or check the
areas we cover. See also our guides to
solar panel grants,
solar panels for charities and community groups and
solar panels for sports clubs.
Are you on a club committee or community board? Talk to us about a free survey and how grant-funded projects work.
