In September 2025, Staffordshire Community Energy (SCE) completed the installation of a major new solar PV system at Lichfield Leisure Centre in partnership with Lichfield District Council. The system, which consists of 395 high-efficiency solar panels rated at 455Wp each, is due to be energised by the end of 2025. This marks a significant step forward for community-owned energy in Staffordshire.

The installation, delivered by Joju Solar, has a total capacity of around 180 kWp and is roof-mounted to make best use of the available space. Once energised, it will generate renewable electricity onsite, helping to reduce carbon emissions while lowering the leisure centre’s running costs through a discounted Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). Leisure centres are among the most energy-intensive public facilities, so this project demonstrates how targeted renewable energy investment can deliver real environmental and financial benefits.

To fund the project’s delivery ahead of community investment, SCE secured a Bridge Loan Facility from We Have The Power, a specialist fund supporting community-owned renewable energy schemes. This enabled the panels to be installed without delay, ensuring that the benefits of the system could begin as soon as possible.

The next step is community ownership. In February 2026, SCE will launch a Community Share Offer, giving local residents and businesses the opportunity to invest in the project. This means people across Staffordshire can own a stake in the county’s clean energy future, receiving a fair return on their investment while keeping the benefits within the local area. Surplus profits from the project will be reinvested into a Community Benefit Fund, supporting wider sustainability and fuel poverty initiatives.

This project highlights the power of collaboration between councils, communities, funders and specialist contractors. With the installation completed and energisation imminent, the focus now turns to community engagement and investment. The forthcoming share offer will open the door for local people to get directly involved, ensuring that Lichfield Leisure Centre is not only a place of health and wellbeing but also a beacon of sustainability.