How It Works

Here Is Exactly What Happens From
First Contact to Lower Bills

No Upfront Cost

No Equipment to Own

No Complexity

The process has four stages. Here is what each one involves.

Just a straightforward process that ends up with your club paying less for the power you need to run it.

Stage 01|Weeks 1 to 3

We find out if your club is a good fit

Most sites work for the Solar in Sport model and we will quickly tell you if yours does not. What we look at initially is quite simple: your roof, your energy consumption and when during the day or night you use that energy.

Your roof

Solar panels need an unobstructed roof space, ideally facing south or south-east or south-west. We will simply assess your roof to understand what size of system we can put on it. To give you an idea, a typical solar system we would deploy might be half the size of a tennis court. If your roof can take it, the system pays. If it cannot, we will tell you at this stage rather than waste anyone's time.
Right-sized for grassroots clubs
We typically install systems between 30kWp and 90kWp of solar and between 50kWh and 150kWh of battery storage. The right size for your club depends on your roof, your consumption, and your usage pattern. We confirm the specification during the assessment — there is no commitment on either side until that work is done.

Your consumption

We are looking for clubs that use a meaningful amount of electricity — typically between 40,000 and 200,000 kilowatt hours per year. That covers most clubs running floodlights, a clubhouse, changing facilities and a bar or event space. With your permission we will review your recent bills or your specific consumption data if your meter provides it.

Your usage pattern

The Solar in Sport model works best for clubs that use power in the evenings — training nights, match days, functions and so on. That is when the battery earns its keep, storing the solar energy generated during the day and then releasing it back to you when your club needs it most.

If the assessment stacks up we move to Stage 2. If it doesn't we part on good terms.

Stage 02|Weeks 3 to 6

We agree the terms

Everything is set out clearly before anything happens.

Before anything goes on your roof you will have a clear and straightforward agreement in place. It covers three things.

What you pay

You pay a fixed pence per unit rate for the electricity the Solar in Sport system generates and that you consume, with the exact figure confirmed once we have completed the assessment. The principle does not change — you will always pay less per unit than you pay for grid electricity.
Rate confirmation
The exact rate depends on your system size and your consumption profile. We will confirm the figure during the assessment process and will agree it in writing before any installation work begins. We will never start work until you are satisfied with the agreement.

The rate you pay Solar in Sport rises with general inflation, not with the energy market. Business electricity prices increased dramatically between 2018 and 2025. Locking your rate to inflation rather than the unpredictable wholesale market is one of the most significant financial protections our agreement provides. The more grid prices rise, the more valuable your fixed discount becomes.

What we own

We fund, install, own and maintain every component of the Solar in Sport system — the panels, the battery system, the inverter and all of the associated equipment. None of it appears on your club's balance sheet. You are buying a unit of electricity, not financing a piece of equipment. Our agreement is intended to operate in a similar way to your existing electricity bill as an operating expense rather than a capital equipment purchase, although clubs should always confirm the accounting treatment independently before signing.

How long it runs

Our agreement runs for 25 years, which reflects the design life of the equipment.
Stage 03|Weeks 6 to 9

The system goes in

Your club keeps running throughout.

Once the agreement is signed, the system goes in. The DNO approval process runs in parallel and can affect the overall timeline — we manage this on your behalf and will keep you informed.

Your roof

The solar panels are mounted on your existing roof structure using a low-penetration racking system. The exact approach depends on your roof type and is confirmed during the site survey. We work around your existing roof warranty and confirm compatibility before any work begins. You do not need a new roof — but we will tell you if yours is not suitable.

It is likely your roof will be suitable but if it is not we will tell you straight away.

Your car park

The battery system is housed in a weatherproof external enclosure — roughly the footprint and height of a small vehicle parked in the corner of your car park. It requires a level hardstanding area and a cable run back to the building's electrical intake. A battery system should not require planning permission.

What happens to your club during installation

There will be periods where the power supply to parts of the building is briefly interrupted. We plan every installation with you around your fixture list, training schedule and any other events — we will not be on your roof on a match day, a cup final or during a function. A typical installation should take between 3 and 5 days on site. Your existing grid supply remains live throughout the process except during the final connection, which typically requires a planned power-off of a few hours. We will agree the timing of this with you in advance.

The team behind your install

Our installation partners are experienced renewable energy engineers. You do not need to provide anything beyond site access and a point of contact. We handle the grid connection and DNO approval process on your behalf — these are our responsibilities, not yours.
Stage 04|From switch on

The system switches on. From this point you simply pay less.

Once commissioned, the Solar in Sport system runs automatically. There is nothing for your club to operate, manage or maintain.

How the system works day to day

During daylight hours, the solar panels generate electricity that feeds directly into your building. Any surplus that your club is not using at that moment is stored in the battery. In the evenings — when most clubs are at their busiest and solar generation has stopped — the energy stored in the battery continues to power the building. Your grid supply will pick up whatever the Solar in Sport system cannot cover.

What your bills look like

You will continue to receive a bill from your existing grid supplier for whatever you import from the grid. This relationship does not change and you keep any existing contracted rates you have negotiated with your supplier. Separately, you will receive a monthly statement from Solar in Sport showing how much electricity your club has consumed from the system and the amount due at your agreed PPA rate. The two bills together will be materially lower than your single grid bill was before.

Monitoring and maintenance

The system is monitored remotely around the clock. If something is underperforming or requires attention we are likely to know about it before you do. Routine maintenance is carried out by our team and is included at no additional cost. If a component fails we will repair or replace it at our cost, not yours. You do not need to log into anything, call anyone or do anything at all. If there is ever an issue that affects your club directly we will contact you.

At the end of the agreement

At the end of the agreement term you will have options. You can extend the agreement on revised terms, take ownership of the system, or have it removed at our cost. We will make contact well in advance of the end of term to discuss what works best for your club. You will never be left with an unwanted system on your roof and no one to speak to.

Is your club a fit?

The model works best for clubs with all of the following:

  • A large south-facing roof in reasonable structural condition
  • Annual electricity consumption above 20,000 kWh
  • Regular evening usage — training sessions, matches, functions, or bar trade
  • An electricity bill that has been rising and is expected to keep doing so

If that sounds like your club, the next step is a no-obligation conversation. We will tell you within a week or two whether the numbers work — and if they do not, we will tell you that too.

Have a specific question about the process? We have answered the ones clubs ask most. See the full FAQ →