Rooftop solar helps Watford’s leisure centres cut emissions

Watford’s leisure centres are cutting emissions while keeping their facilities running, with rooftop solar helping Woodside generate electricity where it is used.

In its latest environmental update, Watford Borough Council reports an 18% fall in emissions across its leisure centres, including a 27% reduction at Woodside. The council’s own operational emissions are now 21.4% below its 2019 baseline.

An earlier solar performance report explains part of the change. Woodside’s 680 panels generated about 113,000 kilowatt-hours between June and August 2025, supplying almost half its electricity demand over those months.

The installation received a £403,900 Sport England grant. On particularly sunny days, it met all the centre’s daytime electricity needs, according to the council.

These are council-reported figures, and summer output should not be treated as a year-round result. Water use remains above target and recycling needs improvement.

Even so, Woodside shows how a public building can produce useful power on its own roof while continuing to offer local swimming and exercise.

Sources

• Watford Borough Council — latest environmental progress
• Watford Borough Council — Woodside’s summer solar performance