Over the past year, here at the Derbyshire Cricket Foundation, we have supported 18 clubs to complete projects through the county grants scheme where over £95,000 has been used.
One club that has benefited from the county grants scheme is Darley Abbey CC. As a club, they have seen their energy costs triple over the past year, which has significantly impacted the club.
The club came up with a plan to reduce its energy costs through the installation of a number of solar panels. The solar panels will enable a sufficient supply of electricity for all the club’s lighting and hot water needs, as well as supplying the storage batteries to allow the club to function properly at times of high usage.
Dave Jepson, Chair of Darley Abbey CC, said:
“Since their installation, the solar panels have resulted in a drop of nearly 2/3 of energy cost from a monthly figure of c£300 to less than £120. Their impact cannot be underestimated – the resulting annual savings will be in excess of £2,000 per year, a hugely significant amount for a club of our size and budget. The club contribution to this project of just under £5,000 will be recouped in savings within three years, after which any further savings can be used to reinvest in the club.
This has all been achieved without activating the export tariff agreement which, particularly during the winter months, will result in additional income generation.
All in all a most worthwhile project and one which I would very much recommend to all clubs who have the ability to install solar panels.”
Facilities and Funding Lead at the DCF, Charlie Storr, said:
“The project at Darley Abbey provided us with a great opportunity to financially support a club to reduce their carbon impact and also significantly reduce their bills. As Dave outlines, this will no doubt give the club a chance to invest more of their revenue back into the club to further improve their facilities and the experience of their members. We were able to match the club’s £5000 investment through our County Grants budget to increase the number of solar panels the club could install and maximise the project’s impact.”
More information about County Grants will be shared soon via our guidance document.
