19th August 2025
South Oxfordshire District Council-run Thame Leisure centre has a cleaner greener future thanks to the 150 new solar panels now installed on its roof.
The solar panels cover large areas of the roof space at the centre including over the gym and the sports hall. It is estimated the panels will produce 69,000 kWh of renewable electricity for the centre. This project follows other work carried out at the site to improve energy efficiency including the installation of LED lighting.
The work was completed in just under two months and the switch on has taken place, so the centre is generating its own electricity every day, even on days when it’s not very sunny. The project has been made possible thanks to a successful bid by South Oxfordshire District Council for just over £160,000 from Sport England – via its Swimming Pool Support Fund – which invests National Lottery and government money each year.
Pieter-Paul Barker, South Oxfordshire District Council cabinet member for finance and property assets and ward member for Thame, went up to the leisure centre roof as the work was being completed (pictured below). He said: “It’s great to see these solar panels already installed and the reality of cleaner renewable electricity already working at this site. Thame Leisure Centre is just the start as we are planning to move to solar energy at many of our buildings including Cornerstone Arts Centre, Didcot Wave and the Park Sports Centre in Wheatley. This is all part of our plans to save energy costs and reduce carbon emissions.”
Cllr Judy Roberts, Cabinet Member for Place, Environment and Climate Action for Oxfordshire County Council, which owns the building, said: “Climate action remains at the heart of everything we do, and our buildings stock is among our main sources of emissions. By making this leisure centre more energy efficient, instead of creating CO2 and relying on expensive fossil fuels, they are cutting their emissions and reducing their energy bills. It’s a win-win.”
