Energy Resilience for Rural Lives, Stokesley Sports Club, Middlesbrough

This is a project to install solar panels at Stokesley Sports Club.

Stokesley Sports Club is a volunteer-run, not for profit, CASC registered, community hub serving over 750 regular users. This project will install a 40.89kW solar PV system with 24kWh battery storage on the clubhouse roof, generating 30,343kWh of clean energy annually. It will reduce carbon emissions by 6.2 tonnes per year and cut energy costs by over £6,500, helping safeguard affordable access to local community group activities, social support, and physical activity. The solar system will also provide energy resilience to the village during outages and secure the club’s future as a vital public amenity for all ages, especially elderly residents who rely on us for social connection and support.

By generating its own electricity through solar and storing it via a 24kWh battery system, the club will gain long-term energy security and significantly reduce reliance on costly, carbon-intensive grid power. This will shield the club from future energy price spikes like those seen in 2022, which put severe financial pressure on the club’s operations and forced it to raise prices, impacting community access. With projected savings of over £6,500 per year, the club can reinvest directly into improving facilities, maintaining affordable membership and hire, and expanding free-to-access events. This means it can continue supporting vulnerable groups like its elderly bowlers, pensioner lunch group, and youth teams—ensuring cost is never a barrier to participation. It also allows the club to host more inclusive, low-cost social events for the wider community. The battery system will also allow the club to continue operating during power cuts—keeping the clubhouse warm and lit for use as a community refuge, particularly for older residents and families who may be at risk during outages. Finally, by taking visible climate-positive action, the club becomes a local environmental role model—demonstrating how even small rural organisations can lead on sustainability and support community resilience in the face of environmental and economic challenges.