Surrey golf club: 120kWp 25-year PPA with zero member-fund draw

Project overview

A Surrey member-owned golf club (520 members, 18-hole course, clubhouse with restaurant) deployed 120kWp solar in 2024 under a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement. The deployment had been considered twice previously (2018, 2021) and rejected both times because capital purchase required a special-resolution member-fund draw that lacked majority support. The PPA structure bypassed the capital-fund issue entirely — zero member contribution, immediate cash benefit.

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The challenge

Member-owned sports clubs face structural finance constraints that don't apply to commercial businesses or public-sector organisations. Capital purchase requires either reserves draw (rare in member-owned clubs operating to break-even) or special-resolution member-fund subscription. Either route requires majority membership support — and members increasingly don't want to fund infrastructure capex through subscription increases. Previous capital-purchase attempts at this club had failed to achieve 75% special-resolution majority.

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Structure and economics

PPA developer funded the £105,000 turnkey installation. PPA terms: 25-year fixed-rate-with-RPI tariff at 16p/kWh consumed solar (versus prevailing 23p grid rate, so club saves 7p/kWh on consumed solar). Club year-one consumed solar approximately 90,000 kWh (75% self-consumption × 120kWp × 1,000 kWh/kWp/year), generating £6,300 of saving on consumed solar. Plus club receives £2,500/year ground rent for hosting the system. Plus residual export revenue (PPA developer captures the export — but club receives a small percentage as rooftop-host fee). Total year-one club benefit £18,000+ across the various revenue lines.

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How we got there

1. Step 1

   Q4 2023: Club strategic review identified solar as priority sustainability initiative. Membership survey indicated strong support for sustainability action but low support for capex-funded approach.

2. Step 2

   Q1 2024: PPA developer screening across three specialist sports-club PPA developers. Selected developer based on rate, contract quality, and references with similar member-owned clubs.

3. Step 3

   Q2 2024: PPA contract negotiation. Key negotiated terms: 25-year fixed RPI-linked tariff, year-10 buyout right at depreciated book value, change-of-membership-structure continuity, exit clause if club closes.

4. Step 4

   Q3 2024: Listed-building consent on the clubhouse roof (Grade II listed). Successful with conservation officer engagement on rear roof slope only.

5. Step 5

   Q4 2024: Construction. PPA developer manages all aspects.

6. Step 6

   Q1 2025: Commissioning. Monitoring portal live with club-level dashboard supporting member communications.

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Outcome

Year-one electricity savings to club: £6,300 from below-grid PPA tariff on consumed solar. Plus £2,500 ground rent income. Plus £9,200 of avoided peak-period electricity costs through clubhouse demand-management improvements that PPA developer recommended as part of installation. Total year-one club cash benefit £18,000. Member sentiment substantially improved — sustainability action delivered without member-fund draw. Project supported broader club ESG positioning for new-member acquisition and corporate-sponsor renewal.

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What this case taught us

• PPA structure resolves member-fund constraint that blocks most member-owned club solar. Where capital purchase requires special-resolution and risk member dissent, PPA delivers same operational benefit without member-fund implications.
• Listed-building golf clubhouses face the same conservation issues as parish churches. Conservation officer engagement on rear/side roof slopes typically secures consent without principal-elevation impact.
• Demand-management improvements often deliver larger annual saving than headline solar saving alone. PPA developers serving sports clubs typically include demand-management as part of broader installation scope.