Garioch Sports Centre is a thriving community sports and leisure facility in Inverurie, Aberdeenshire. The centre offers a wide range of amenities, including a gym, community wellness hub, conference facilities and sports courts for activities such as badminton and pickleball. It is a busy, well-used space that plays an important role in the local community.
In 2025, Kevin Bonarius, Alan Still and the team at Ryse Energy secured a £77,337 grant for the centre through the Community Energy Generation Growth Fund, delivered by the Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES), to support the installation of a 75kW solar PV system. The project included 45kW of roof-mounted solar PV and 30kW of ground-mounted solar PV. This built on previous investment through the Just Transition Fund, which helped the centre install an initial 37kW of roof-mounted solar PV.
A visit to the centre by Rachel Yule, our Development Officer for the North East of Scotland, in May 2026 provided the opportunity to see the completed installation in action and hear first-hand about the impact it has already had. Luckily, the weather couldn’t have been much better for viewing a solar PV project – under bright blue skies, the panels were performing exactly as intended.
As Rachel arrived at the centre, it was immediately clear just how important the facility is to the local area. The site was buzzing with activity, with participants taking part in a morning Hyrox class and visitors moving between the different facilities. A tour of the centre offered a closer look at the wide range of activities available and highlighted the scale of energy demand required to keep such a busy site running.
During discussions on site, Kevin and Alan explained that the solar PV system has already made a significant difference to the centre’s energy bills. With long opening hours, floodlighting and energy-intensive 3G football pitches, reducing electricity costs has become increasingly important. The additional solar generation is helping to offset some of those costs while reducing the centre’s carbon footprint.
One particularly impressive feature can be found in the reception area, where a digital display screen provides real-time information on the solar PV system’s performance. Visitors can see exactly how much electricity the system is generating, alongside carbon savings and information about the support provided through Local Energy Scotland and the installation team. It’s a simple but effective way of showcasing the benefits of renewable energy and helping the local community engage with the project.
The visit also provided an opportunity for Rachel to discuss potential future projects and how the centre can continue building on its sustainability ambitions. Given the success of the solar PV installation so far, there is clear enthusiasm for exploring further opportunities to reduce costs, lower emissions and strengthen the centre’s long-term resilience.
Projects like this demonstrate the significant impact community facilities can achieve when they invest in renewable energy. Garioch Sports Centre works closely with local groups, sports clubs, organisations and schools, supporting a wide range of people across the area. By reducing its energy costs through solar generation, the centre can reinvest savings back into its facilities and activities, helping to ensure it remains an affordable and accessible community asset for years to come.