SiD installs ground breaking battery system

Between 2012 and 2015 Sport in Desford (SiD) installed 176 solar panels on every available roof of the SiD clubhouse, generating around 40,000 KWh p.a. Following the installing of LED lighting in main rooms, corridors and for security lighting we managed to reduce our demand (consumption) from 46,000 KWh down to 36,000 KWh p.a., meaning that over the year we are now generating more electricity than we are consuming.

However our generation necessarily occurs during the day, whilst the greatest demand is in the evenings, for lighting and floodlighting. As a result SiD recruited Carbon Legacy Ltd to install 6 Tesla 'Powerwall 2' batteries in May/June 2018 to store daytime electricity for consumption in the evening, with two batteries on each phase of our 3 phase supply with a total capacity of 81 KWh. This is the first installation of this size in the UK and we are pleased to say that it is working really well so far.

We estimate that this will allow SiD over a year to use about 70% of our generated electricity on site instead of the previous figure of 36%, which we hope will save SiD around £1,500 each year on electricity being imported from the grid.

SiD is indebted to lead funders British Airways Carbon Fund (managed by Pure Leapfrog) and Postcode Local Charitable Trust, a grant-giving charity funded entirely by players of People's Postcode Lottery, who with the support of Tarmac Landfill Community Fund provided the funds to complete this project and to Carbon Legacy Limited for an excellent installation.

Working with the British Airways Carbon Fund through Pure Leapfrog, Postcode Local Charitable Trust and Tarmac Landfill Community Fund has enabled us to achieve our goal of becoming almost entirely self-sufficient for electricity. As well as reducing our carbon footprint, the savings we have achieved have been ploughed back into the centre to help keep prices low and so we can continue to provide high quality, accessible sporting facilities for the whole community. These renewable energy projects simply would not have been possible without the support of the 3 funding organisations.

Sport in Desford is a Registered Charity set up by the Desford Parish Council to promote sport in the local community. The main clubhouse was built in 1998 and It has a thriving membership now of well over 500 members who enjoy playing sport at a relaxed level as well as taking part in local competitions.

Source: (Sport in Desford, 2018)