Broadmead Community Church invests in solar energy to benefit church and community

Broadmead Community Church in Northampton has taken an important step towards a more sustainable future with the installation of a new solar energy system at its Broadmead Avenue site.

The new system comprises 63 solar panels with a total generation capacity of 37.8kW, supported by 20kW of battery storage. Combined with a smart energy tariff, the system will enable the church to make better use of the electricity it generates, store energy for use when it is needed and reduce the amount of power purchased from the grid at more expensive times.

The investment is expected to deliver significant long-term savings on the church’s energy bills, helping reduce the cost of running the building and supporting the church’s ministry, community activities and the many groups and organisations that use the facilities throughout the week.

Broadmead Community Church is much more than a place of worship. Its facilities are used extensively by the local community, hosting activities for people of different ages as well as community groups, children and young people, support activities and other local initiatives. Reducing the cost of operating such a busy building will therefore bring benefits not only to the church itself but also to the wider community it serves.

The combination of solar generation, battery storage and smart energy management will allow electricity generated during daylight hours to be used more efficiently. Surplus solar energy can be stored in the batteries for later use, while the smart tariff provides further opportunities to charge the batteries when grid electricity is cheaper and reduce reliance on more expensive peak-time energy.

The project also reflects Broadmead Community Church’s desire to use its resources responsibly and reduce the environmental impact of operating its buildings. By generating more of its own renewable electricity, the church expects to reduce its dependence on grid-supplied energy while lowering its carbon footprint.

A spokesperson for Broadmead Community Church said:

“Our building is used throughout the week by both the church and the wider community, so energy represents a significant part of our running costs. Installing solar panels and battery storage is an investment in the future. It will help us reduce our energy bills, use electricity more efficiently and support the many activities that take place here each week.”

The church would also like to express its sincere thanks to the grant providers who supported the project, together with the members of Broadmead Community Church who contributed towards its cost. Their generosity and support have played an important part in making the installation possible. Grants were provided by Northampton Town Council, Benefact Trust, Davidge Usher Trust, and Eric Stanton Northampton Trust.

Andrew Stevens, Chair of the Climate Change Forum at Northampton Town Council, said:

“We were delighted to provide a Climate Change Grant towards funding solar panels at Broadmead Community Church. Solar power is now among the cheapest sources of electricity available, harnessing free energy from the sun falling on our own rooftops. This is a common-sense local investment that cuts bills, strengthens energy security and benefits the whole community via reducing the climate heating emissions when gas is burned to produce electricity.”

The new system represents a significant commitment to both financial and environmental sustainability and will help ensure that Broadmead Community Church can continue serving Northampton and its local community for many years to come.