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Babergh & Mid Suffolk shine bright with solar-powered leisure and depot savings
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Harvest Green Developments helped Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils install 509.9 kWp of rooftop solar across leisure centres and a depot, generating 1,684 MWh, saving over £1.2 million over the system lifespan, and reducing 300+ tonnes of CO₂ annually.
Lifetime savings: £1,200,000
Turning sunshine into £1.2 million lifetime savings
When Babergh District Council and Mid Suffolk District Council set out to make their leisure centres and depot more sustainable, they had more than just environmental goals in mind. With energy costs rising and pressure on public sector budgets increasing, the councils wanted to take a strategic step toward both financial and operational resilience. Partnering with Harvest Green Developments through CorEnergy, they embarked on a solar PV programme that would turn rooftop real estate into a renewable energy powerhouse, delivering measurable savings and demonstrating climate leadership across the East of England.
The Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) Phase 1 grant provided full funding for the project, enabling the councils to install rooftop solar systems across four leisure centres and one operational depot. The combined capacity of 509.9 kWp has already generated over 1,684 MWh of clean electricity, which is the equivalent energy usage of roughly 500 homes for a year. Over the lifespan of these systems, the councils are projected to save more than £1.2 million on energy costs, while simultaneously cutting over 300 tonnes of CO₂ annually.
A seamless blend of sustainability and operations
Delivering solar across multiple operational sites required meticulous planning and collaboration. Each leisure centre remained open to the public throughout installation, while the depot maintained full operational activity. Harvest Green Developments worked closely with council teams, site managers, and the Distribution Network Operator to coordinate schedules, manage access, and ensure health and safety was never compromised. Scaffolding, exclusion zones, and robust site management allowed work to proceed smoothly, while SolarEdge technology provided module-level monitoring and automated alerts, giving the councils confidence that every kilowatt of energy was performing optimally.
At Kingfisher Leisure Centre, the project faced an additional challenge: integrating the new solar PV system with an existing Combined Heat & Power (CHP) unit. Through careful electrical design and planning, Harvest Green Developments ensured the two generation sources worked seamlessly together, maximising on-site electricity generation while maintaining operational safety and efficiency. Across all sites, roof surveys, structural assessments, and bespoke installation methods were applied to ensure long-term reliability and adherence to UK construction and electrical standards.
Innovation that delivers
The project leveraged SolarEdge inverters and power optimisers with advanced safety features such as SafeDC and arc-fault detection. Real-time monitoring and data analytics not only enabled proactive maintenance but also gave the councils clear visibility over their energy generation and performance. Lessons learned from roof conditions, site constraints, and multi-site coordination were embedded into a replicable framework, creating a model that other councils and organisations can follow to deliver their own decarbonisation projects with confidence.
Beyond energy savings, the programme delivered operational resilience. Some leisure centres now meet up to 50% of their electricity needs directly from solar power, reducing reliance on the National Grid and safeguarding against energy price volatility.
Building trust through expertise
Harvest Green Developments’ experience in managing multi-site solar projects in operational buildings allowed Babergh and Mid Suffolk councils to navigate complex logistical, technical, and regulatory challenges. From planning and design through to installation, commissioning, and ongoing monitoring, Harvest Green Developments ensures projects are delivered on time, on budget, and to the highest quality standards.
For other councils, leisure operators, or organisations with multiple sites, this case study serves as a clear example of what is possible when sustainability, financial prudence, and operational continuity are prioritised. By turning sunlight into tangible financial and environmental outcomes, Babergh and Mid Suffolk councils have created a replicable blueprint for local government decarbonisation.
Discover how Harvest Green Developments can help your facilities achieve measurable savings and showcase leadership in sustainability.
Babergh District Council
