Basingstoke Golf Club - 118.35 kWp (Jan '25)

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:

• 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

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.