Talacre Sports Centre

THE urgent need to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and tackle soaring energy costs could see a sports centre become its own power station.

The Talacre Sports Centre, owned by the Town Hall and managed by Greenwich Leisure, have struck a deal with renewable energy generators Power Up North London (PUNL) to install a raft of solar panels on the popular gym and sports pitches based in Prince of Wales Road, Kentish Town.

The volunteer-led climate action group PUNL have already installed solar panels in a number of public buildings – including Highgate church St Anne’s, and the Caversham GP practice in Kentish Town and Hampstead secondary school.

Solar power can help cut costs and slash the carbon footprint of a building – as it generates enough electricity to cover what’s needed with any surplus being sold to the national grid.

The plans would see around one third of the centre’s energy needs met by panels on the roof.