Bexley Cricket Club Awarded £20,000 Grant for Solar Panel Installation

The funding will enable the club to install solar panels on the roof of its cricket pavilion, a significant initiative that promotes sustainability and reduces energy costs for the club.

The grant will benefit nearly 1,000 members of both the cricket and hockey clubs, whilst contributing to the club's longer term financial stability. The installation of solar panels is expected to generate an estimated £6,000 in annual energy cost savings, allowing Bexley Cricket Club to reinvest in community activities and further promote sports and recreation.

During a recent visit to Bexley Cricket Club with representatives from the project team, Louie French, MP for Old Bexley and Sidcup, said:  “It was a pleasure to join Councillor Cameron Smith at Bexley Cricket Club to see first-hand how funding from National Grid’s Community Grant Programme is supporting this valued community hub in promoting sustainability.”

This project is part of National Grid's commitment to community outreach in the areas that we operate in. Bexley is home to a section of the London Power Tunnels (LPT) project, and National Grid is dedicated to positively impacting the local community through initiatives like this. This not only supports the improvement of community facilities but also fosters a culture of sustainability and environmental responsibility.

In addition to supporting community projects, National Grid has also made significant investments in infrastructure that underpins the energy supply in London. LPT is a network of underground tunnels that carry high-voltage electricity cables across the city. In total, 32.5 km of tunnels have been constructed deep below the road network between Wimbledon and Crayford, which will carry high voltage electricity cables.

Most of the electricity supply in South London is currently transmitted through underground cables, traditionally found just below the road surface, for which maintenance works can be disruptive. By housing new electricity cables in deep underground tunnels, there will be several benefits:

Less disruption during construction as many works will take place deep underground.

Future repairs and maintenance work can be carried out without disrupting traffic, residents, and businesses.

Additional cables can be installed in the tunnels to meet future demand.

LPT represents the first major investment in London's electricity transmission system since the 1960s. It has played a crucial role in accommodating the growing amount of renewable energy generation connecting to the network, promoted engineering skills in London schools, and seen key community outreach in local areas.

National Grid is excited to support Bexley Cricket Club in their solar panel installation project and looks forward to the positive impact it will have on the community and the environment.

For more information about the LPT project, please visit National Grid's project website www.londonpowertunnels.co.uk