‘Our operations are powered by solar’: meet the companies tackling energy hikes with technology
With two energy crises since 2021, disruption is the new norm. But as businesses around the UK are discovering, solar panels are an ideal way to regain energy equilibrium
When it comes to energy prices, the only thing that seems predictable is unpredictability. In recent years, global conflicts have disrupted supply chains and sent prices rocketing. For business owners managing costs it’s a daily rollercoaster.
‘I didn’t have to take a step out of my day job’
Jake Parry, general manager of the not-for-profit leisure centre RiversMeet in Gillingham, Dorset, has keenly felt the effects of fluctuating costs. After RiversMeet survived the pandemic lockdowns, the 2022 energy crisis saw its energy outlay soar. “We were experiencing a big increase in the cost of running the facility. Our electricity costs went from 11p up to 88p a kilowatt hour (p/kWh),” Parry says.
Leisure centres are energy-hungry places: swimming pools require heating, gyms and fitness studios need air conditioning, and a soft play centre full of inflatables needs to stay inflated. It meant RiversMeet needed a way to insulate itself against the volatility of the global energy market or risk shutdown.
“We looked at the numbers and at that point it was only three months before we closed the doors for good,” he says. “We had to take action and we started down the process of installing solar panels.”
The centre started with an energy audit – which showed massive grid power reliance and outdated lighting. This audit and the actions alone helped them to reduce electricity consumption by half.
Next came the solar panels – installed by Good Energy and funded through a Power Purchase Agreement with another party. For a business with the energy needs of RiversMeet, that meant a whopping 528 in total, along with 264 SolarEdge power optimisers (a device designed to maximise energy yield and increase safety), and two SolarEdge inverters (which convert the heat energy absorbed into usable AC power). The installation took place in two stages across 2022 and 2024.
As Parry explains, the process was smooth and straightforward, with Good Energy’s expertise allowing him to focus on what he does best – running a leisure centre. “Working with Good Energy, they understood our needs as a business. They didn’t really require my input on anything, which made my life easy. I didn’t have to take a step out of my day job.”
‘Why haven’t we done this sooner?’
Solar has been a significant investment, but one that is already seeing returns. Parry says: “Solar panels have made a big difference to our business here, helping us reduce our running costs. It was one of those things where you think: ‘Why haven’t we done this sooner?’”
RiversMeet is projected to generate 253,282kWh of power annually, which equates to a saving of £57,000 each year. This should lead to a return on investment from the solar installation in less than four years. Equally as impressive as the savings are the CO2 reductions (annually RiversMeet is saving 141 tonnes).
RiversMeet is far from the only Good Energy solar success story, with others including smart home energy manufacturer myenergi, which is saving £62,000 annually.
For myenergi, the benefits extend beyond lower bills. Emma Brigginshaw, head of sustainability and ethics, says the solar arrays make “a big impression” on visiting customers and partners, helping demonstrate the company’s sustainability commitments while enhancing its reputation alongside delivering a rapid return on investment.
According to Mark Coyle, services sales director at Good Energy, this experience isn’t an outlier. It reflects a wider pattern playing out across UK businesses right now. “For many, the cost of energy is a critical factor in their financial viability and ability to invest for growth.” he says. “Yet UK energy prices remain among the highest in Europe for business.”
Modelling for a typical large manufacturer using 3.54GWh of electricity a year shows just how much is at stake; not installing solar could cost around £2.1m more over the next decade than the investment itself. Compared with a larger system that includes battery storage, that gap widens to around £3.8m.
Coyle says: “Every month that a decision isn’t taken, the higher energy costs remain, impacting the business. The question then becomes not should they install solar, but how they can afford to keep waiting.”
With RiversMeet’s roof now working as hard as the rest of the leisure centre, the business is going from strength to strength, says Parry. “The charity now is larger than it’s ever been, with more social value than it’s ever had. We’re committed to sustainability, we’re committed to the future, we’re committed to creating a provision here that’s going to last the test of time. And by having renewable energy on the roof, it makes that possible.”