The nomination recognises the work we've been doing to make our leisure centres more sustainable by installing solar panels and battery storage at numerous leisure centres across England and Wales.
These improvements aren't just good for the environment, they'll also help us reduce our energy consumption, making our centres more resilient and helping us invest in the services our communities rely on.
The project is expected to:
- Generate more than 1.5million kWh that could power 4 medium sized leisure centres (with a swimming pool) for a year
- Reduce carbon emissions by 327 tonnes each year
- Save more than £12.7 million in energy costs over the next 25 years
As a charitable leisure trust welcoming more than 23 million visits every year, we're committed to reducing our environmental impact while making sure our centres remain affordable and sustainable for the future.
Energy is one of our biggest running costs, so investing in renewable energy makes sense both environmentally and financially. As a not-for-profit organisation, every pound we save on energy helps us continue providing great facilities and services for the communities we serve. Generating more of our own electricity also makes us less reliant on the national grid and better protected against rising energy prices.
Angela Brown
Working with our local authority partners, we identified the sites where solar power could make the biggest difference and secured funding to bring the programme to life. SolarSense, installed more than 3,450 solar panels alongside battery storage systems, with each installation designed to meet the needs of that individual leisure centre.
We're delighted to see Freedom Leisure's outstanding clean energy programme recognised by the edie Energy & Tech Awards. This shortlist is a testament to the organisation's long-term commitment to sustainability and the collaborative approach taken by Freedom Leisure, its local authority partners and public-sector funding bodies. By combining tailored engineering, high-performance technologies and careful project delivery, this programme demonstrates how organisations can decarbonise complex estates, strengthen operational resilience and deliver lasting financial and environmental benefits. We're incredibly proud to have supported Freedom Leisure on this important journey
Russell Mees
The systems are expected to save around £340,000 in energy costs in the first year alone, helping us reduce running costs while lowering our carbon footprint.
Successful renewable energy projects rely on the right delivery partner, one that can support informed decision-making, provide the technical expertise to manage complex operational environments, deliver collaborative project management and maximise long term system performance. Delivering a solution that supports our sustainability ambitions while putting our customers first.
Angela Brown
The winners of the edie Energy & Tech Awards 2026 will be announced on 16 October.
We're incredibly proud of the progress we've made to date and this programme is an important step in our journey towards a more sustainable future, helping us reduce our environmental impact while continuing to provide great places for people to improve their lives.
The winners of the edie Energy & Tech Awards 2026 will be announced on 16 October.
We're incredibly proud of the progress we've made to date and this programme is an important step in our journey towards a more sustainable future, helping us reduce our environmental impact while continuing to provide great places for people to improve their lives.