Lichfield’s brand-new leisure centre will open with community-owned solar power at its core, thanks to a partnership between Staffordshire Community Energy (SCE) and Lichfield District Council.
Nearly 400 solar panels have been installed on the roof, generating around 149,000 kilowatt hours of clean electricity each year. Around 90 per cent of this will be used on site, cutting the centre’s carbon footprint by roughly 35 tonnes annually. This is the equivalent of removing more than 20 petrol cars from the road. Any surplus power will be sold to the grid, helping to fund local community projects.
Over its lifetime, the solar system is expected to save the centre more than £160,000 in energy costs and create a community fund worth over £150,000 to support projects that deliver social and environmental benefit.
Mike Kinghan MBE, founder of SCE, said:
“As a Community Benefit Society, our aim has always been to keep the benefits of clean energy here in Staffordshire. Lichfield Leisure Centre shows what that means in practice – a new public building powered by the sun, lower bills from day one, and a community fund to invest back into local projects.”
Councillor Janice Silvester-Hall, Cabinet Member for Visitor Economy, Ecology and Climate Change at Lichfield District Council, added:
“This partnership shows the power of community energy – reducing our carbon footprint, lowering running costs, and investing savings back into local projects. It’s a brilliant example of how councils and communities can take positive climate action together.”
The project was supported by We Have The Power, which provided bridging finance ahead of SCE’s forthcoming community share offer, due to launch in early 2026. This will give local residents the chance to invest in and share ownership of the installation
To receive updates about the upcoming share offer, make sure you’re subscribed to our mailing list: staffscommunityenergy.org.uk/newsletter
