Introduction
In January 2025, Basingstoke Golf Club took a decisive step in its estate-wide renovation plan by installing 263 high-efficiency solar panels across the maintenance-shed and driving-range roofs. The 118.35 kWp array will generate about 104,000 kWh of clean electricity each year, trimming annual energy bills by roughly £21,000 while preventing 23,432 kg of CO₂ from entering the atmosphere. The project - delivered from first enquiry to commissioning in just three months - now stands at the heart of the club’s ambition to become one of the greenest sporting venues in the region.
Why Basingstoke Golf Club Chose Solar
A wholesale upgrade of club facilities is under way, with sustainability threaded through every decision. Management wanted an investment that would:
- Lower operating costs immediately to help fund wider improvements.
- Demonstrate environmental leadership to members, visitors and tournament partners.
- Support on-site eco-initiatives such as pumping harvested rainwater to lagoons for irrigation.
Solar ticked each box, offering rapid payback, visible results, and long-term protection against rising electricity prices.
The Solar System Design
Spirit Energy’s design team assessed the roofs in October 2024 and found unobstructed expanses of trapezoidal sheet metal—ideal for a straightforward, cost-effective installation. Key design points:
| Maintenance Shed | Driving Range | Combined | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Modules | 83 × 450 W | 160 × 450 W | 263 × 450 W |
| Capacity | 37.35 kWp | 81 kWp | 118.35 kWp |
| Expected annual yield | 35,000 kWh | 69,000 kWh | 104,000 kWh |
- Load profile alignment: Clubhouse and course facilities draw power steadily throughout the day, allowing an impressive 82.8 % on-site consumption (86,112 kWh).
- Export: Only 17.2 % (17,888 kWh) is forecast to be exported under the Smart Export Guarantee.
- Seasonal split: Self-consumption peaks at about 70 % in summer months and rises to nearly 100 % through winter. On a typical summer day solar will meet roughly 30 % of total demand without battery storage.
Installation Highlights
- Installation Timeline: Seven working days on the roof and electrical works, despite frosty January mornings that slowed early starts.
- Safety & quality: Arc boxes protect every MC4 string connection; rapid-shutdown devices exceed regulatory requirements.
- Cabling:
- Maintenance shed – DC drops neatly down the external wall, with AC tied into the adjacent distribution board.
- Driving range – DC feeds an inverter housed in an internal plant room before linking to the main board.
- Minimal disruption: Roof access and lifting activities were scheduled outside peak tee times. Scaffolding hugged building perimeters, keeping fairways clear and protecting manicured turf.
Financial and Environmental Benefits
| Roof | IRR | NPV | Simple payback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maintenance shed | 37 % | £288,402 | 4 years |
| Driving range | 47 % | £618,188 | 3 years |
| Combined | 42 % | £906,590 | 3 years |
All returns are achieved without grants or special financing. Over the 25-year warrantied life of the system, the club will avoid more than half a million kilograms of CO₂—equivalent to planting over 30,000 mature trees.
Conclusion
By integrating solar into its wider green renovation, Basingstoke Golf Club has secured fast-rising financial returns, strengthened its environmental credentials, and powered critical course infrastructure with home-grown renewable energy. The project proves that even leisure venues with busy schedules and demanding aesthetics can adopt large-scale solar quickly and unobtrusively - unlocking savings, resilience and long-term sustainability in one elegant swing.
