Solar for sports clubs, golf clubs and leisure centres
| Site | What runs in daylight | Where panels go |
|---|---|---|
| Golf club | Clubhouse kitchen and bar, pro shop, buggy and mower charging, irrigation pumps | Clubhouse and greenkeeping shed roofs, spare ground |
| Football, rugby or cricket club | Bar and kitchen on match days, changing rooms, hot water | Clubhouse and stand roofs |
| Tennis or racket club | Indoor court lighting, heating, café | Large indoor court roofs |
| Gym or leisure centre | Lighting, ventilation, gym equipment, pools | Large flat roofs, car parks |
Clubhouses, floodlights, pools and gyms
- Pools. Pumps, filtration and ventilation run all day, every day: the best fit for solar at a leisure centre
- Gyms and leisure centres. Long opening hours, with lighting, ventilation and equipment
- Clubhouses. Busy on match days and weekends, quieter midweek: check the weekly pattern
- Floodlights. Run after dark, so solar only helps them through a battery
- Charging. Buggies, mowers and club vehicles can charge from midday output
Twelve months of half-hourly data shows the installer how much the club uses while the sun is up. See also commercial battery storage.
Give your committee a real proposal to consider: book a free site survey.
Book a free site surveyClub committees and leases
- Who decides. The committee or board, under the club's rules; a written proposal helps members understand it
- Who owns the ground. Many clubs lease from a council, a school or a landowner, who must consent
- Lease length. Funders and installers look for a lease that outlasts the payback period
- Shared sites. Where several clubs share buildings or a meter, agree who pays and who benefits
Funding for sports clubs
Sport England announced on 11 June 2025 that up to £16 million, 10% of the £160 million available through its Movement Fund, would be reserved for green sports initiatives, with organisations able to bid for between £300 and £15,000; its examples include "reducing energy use through solar panels and electric batteries" (Sport England). Funds change, so check the Movement Fund guidance for the current position. Sport England covers England; ask the sports council in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland about schemes there.
Great British Energy has funded some local schemes through mayoral authorities, including solar on leisure centres in Yorkshire, announced in July 2025 (GBE). For charger grants, the Workplace Charging Scheme is open to businesses and charities until 31 March 2027 (WCS). See our solar grants page for the wider picture.
VAT and paying for it
HMRC's zero rate for energy-saving materials covers buildings used solely for a relevant charitable purpose, which includes use by a charity as a village hall or similar providing social or recreational facilities for a local community (Notice 708/6). Clubs that are not charities, or that run the building as a business, pay the standard rate. Beyond grants, clubs use reserves, loans, leases or a power purchase agreement: see paying for commercial solar and charities and community buildings.
Sources
Sport England's Movement Fund announcement, HMRC Notice 708/6, Great British Energy and the Workplace Charging Scheme listing were read on 2 November 2026.
- Sport England: up to £16 million of the Movement Fund for environmental projects (11 June 2025)
- HMRC VAT Notice 708/6: energy-saving materials (relevant charitable purposes, 2.22)
- Great British Energy: £10 million for community facilities, including leisure centres (17 July 2025)
- Find a grant: Workplace Charging Scheme (open until 31 March 2027)
General information, not tax advice. Check each fund's current guidance before applying.