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Southampton FC switches to solar as Utilita powers up Staplewood

Published in: Solar, Press Releases

Southampton FC switches to solar as Utilita powers up Staplewood image

Southampton Football Club and Official Sustainability Partner, Utilita, marked a major milestone in their partnership with the official switching on of the club’s solar panel installation at its Staplewood Training Campus (28 January).

More than 450 solar panels have now been installed across the Pavilion and Gym roofs, delivering a substantial boost to the club’s renewable energy use and supporting The Halo Effect—Southampton FC’s long-term environmental strategy.

The Switch-On Event brought together players, partners, community figures and project stakeholders, highlighting the collaborative effort behind the installation.

In attendance were:

  • Tom Fellows and Jay Robinson – Men’s First Team players
  • Harry Gathercole and Korban McMullan – U18 Academy players
  • Councillor John Savage of Southampton City Council
  • Key staff from Southampton FC and Utilita

The event opened with a welcome address from Greg Baker, Chief Revenue Officer at Southampton FC, and Bill Bullen, Chief Executive Officer of Utilita Energy, highlighting the importance of sport-led leadership in sustainability and community responsibility.

This was followed by a project presentation from Darren Pollard, Head of Estates at Southampton FC, who outlined the delivery of the installation, the technical scope of the project, and its long-term environmental and operational benefits for the club.

Greg Baker, Chief Revenue Officer, Southampton FC, said: “This is a great moment for the club. What began as a sustainability commitment has now become a visible, working renewable energy solution that will benefit Southampton FC for years to come. This project shows how football can drive meaningful environmental change.”

Bill Bullen, Chief Executive Officer, Utilita Energy, added: “This partnership demonstrates how organisations can turn ambition into action. Today’s switch-on is not just symbolic. It’s practical, measurable progress towards a cleaner energy future.”

Key project benefits

  • Solar will generate circa 20% of total annual electricity consumption at the Pavilion
  • Fixed energy costs with savings of £0.6m over 20 years
  • Reporting dashboard to review system performance and maximise efficiency
  • Circa 33,000kg CO2 p/annum reduction

The solar installation is expected to contribute a significant proportion of the site’s electricity demand, reduce reliance on grid power, and deliver long-term cost and carbon savings. Southampton FC and Utilita will continue to share updates on the project’s performance and explore further opportunities to advance sustainability across the club’s operations.

For further information or high-resolution images, contact:

Loretta Spridgeon

lorettaspridgeon@utilita.co.uk

07808 052368

https://utilita.co.uk/

Southampton Football Club Contact:

Ellen Rowles (PR & Communications Manager)

erowles@saintsfc.co.uk

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