Leisure centre solar panel cost soars

The installation of solar panels on the roof of a leisure centre will cost hundreds of thousands of pounds more than expected.

The installation of panels at Perdiswell Leisure Centre, in Worcester, was first predicted to cost £274,000 but the installation alone is now believed to amount to £480,000 with re-roofing and other costs also to be added.

Worcester City Council backed the project to generate 154 megawatt hours of energy in July last year.

A different type of solar panel was found to generate more power but at a greater cost, and the council's Policy and Resources Committee will decide next week whether it wants to continue with the project.

The council said it would get an annual return on its investment of about 11 percent.

Sport England’s Swimming Pool Support Fund has contributed £195,750 of funding.

“The estimated return calculation excludes the cost of the planned maintenance on the sports hall roof as this cost would be incurred in any event,” it says in a report going before next week’s policy and resources committee.

The panels are earmarked to be built above the sports hall and swimming pool building. The extra costs are projected at up to £350,000 to re-felt the sports hall roof and £35,000 in fees.

“Both roofs have been surveyed and given the age and condition of the sports hall block roof, the council would be recommended to replace the flat roof covering as planned maintenance before installation of the solar panels.

“Otherwise, the solar panels are very likely to have to be disassembled and temporarily taken off the roof to allow repairs or replacement of the roof covering during their life.”

The leisure centre also wants to install destratification fans, which circulate warm air to balance the temperature of a room and reduce heating demand.

The council’s policy and resources committee meets at the Guildhall in Worcester next Tuesday