Northampton Saints rugby club has installed 200 solar panels on its iconic stadium Franklin’s Gardens.
The installation of the solar panels marks a step forward for the rugby club in its attempts to slash its carbon footprint. The club already utilises the Franklin’s Gardens lake for the irrigation water required for the club’s pitches.
Commenting on the decision to install solar PV on the stadium, chief executive Allan Robson said: “We're fortunate to have our own stadium, rather than having to groundshare, so we can explore options that will benefit the club in the longer-term. In an era when electricity prices are continuing to rise, looking into alternatives which generate renewable energy is something which makes a lot of sense.”
The 50kWp array is being installed by Buckingham-based SolarTech on the south-facing Burrda stand.
Robson added: “The Burrda Sport Stand was the perfect location, and the technicians from SolarTech tell us that they have rarely worked on a better site for solar panels. The stand is one of the highest buildings in the area, so it doesn't come under that much shade, and on clear days like we've had this week it has direct sunlight for the vast majority of the day.
“Of course we know that the weather will change, but these solar panels have been installed with a long-term view and we're very happy to be reducing our carbon footprint in the process.”