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Solar panels to be installed at The Valley

clive
clive Posts: 19,455
in General Charlton

Charlton Athletic are planning to install giant solar panels on two stands at The Valley.

Details of the plans have been lodged with Greenwich Council, a week after the club signed a deal to have a new floodlight system installed at the stadium.

The two arrays would run the length of the West Stand and the Alan Curbishley Stand.

https://greenwichwire.co.uk/2025/06/17/solar-panels-to-brighten-outlook-at-charlton-athletics-valley/

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Comments

  • Pelham123
    Pelham123 Posts: 379
    edited June 17
    Don’t know if they already do it but they could harvest plenty of rainwater off the stands also. No brainier.
  • soapy_jones
    soapy_jones Posts: 21,353
    edited June 17
    Ruins my dreams...

    Many moons ago I remember emailing PV about putting "The Valley" in huge letters on the West Stand roof,  aka the old Brentford ground, cannot remember their wording.  Thought it would be free advertising.  The only time i have corresponded with the club and to be fair, he did get back, mentioning strict planning rules and FL rules, blah de blah.

    If it saves NJ having to pop down ASDA to top the lekkie key up, I suppose its a good idea.
  • KingKinsella
    KingKinsella Posts: 1,312
    Just heard this, as a headline and not knowing any detail I think it is wonderful.Congratulations to all involved.This sets an example, I hope all new stadiums as well as old(er) ones will look to fitting them.
  • Gribbo
    Gribbo Posts: 8,485
    We'll have a vegan kitchen next, pandering to the minority yet again
  • cafcnick1992
    cafcnick1992 Posts: 7,413
    How does this work with Duchatelet owning the ground? We're just increasing the value of his asset?
  • fenaddick
    fenaddick Posts: 11,051
    edited June 17
    cafcnick1992 said:
    How does this work with Duchatelet owning the ground? We're just increasing the value of his asset?
    Can always strip them off if we had to leave (which I don't think the owners would allow)
  • MrOneLung
    MrOneLung Posts: 26,855
    well if it is anything like the quotes to have panels on our house, it will be about 7 years before they even recoup the original costs !!!
  • Gribbo
    Gribbo Posts: 8,485
    Not read the article and jokes aside - Are they being fitted foc in one of those deals where the company has rights to the surplus power generated?
  • golfaddick
    golfaddick Posts: 33,628
    Just fix the internet /wifi connection  !!
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  • Friend Or Defoe
    Friend Or Defoe Posts: 18,090
    cafcnick1992 said:
    How does this work with Duchatelet owning the ground? We're just increasing the value of his asset?
    Yes, and if it's anything like putting in new windows into a flat we would have had to pay for the pleasure of doing so
  • shirty5
    shirty5 Posts: 19,230
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0lwlx13w13o.amp
  • tallboy
    tallboy Posts: 115
    cafcnick1992 said:
    How does this work with Duchatelet owning the ground? We're just increasing the value of his asset?
    Working life of Solar panels and their other components like inverters is about 15 years and the existing lease with Duchatelet goes beyond that. The club will be responsible for getting them removed at the end of their working life span but probably that has been factored into the financial calculations. 
  • fenaddick
    fenaddick Posts: 11,051
    Gribbo said:
    Not read the article and jokes aside - Are they being fitted foc in one of those deals where the company has rights to the surplus power generated?
    Article just says surplus would be sent to the national grid, the article is more about planning than anything else
  • Gribbo
    Gribbo Posts: 8,485
    fenaddick said:
    Gribbo said:
    Not read the article and jokes aside - Are they being fitted foc in one of those deals where the company has rights to the surplus power generated?
    Article just says surplus would be sent to the national grid, the article is more about planning than anything else
    So possibly quids in then maybe?
  • Swisdom
    Swisdom Posts: 14,977
    golfaddick said:
    Just fix the internet /wifi connection  !!
    my father was invited to sponsor the free Wi-Fi about five years ago. It was only going to cost £50,000 a year.  it was a very short conversation
  • Billy_Mix
    Billy_Mix Posts: 2,707
    The critical part of this sort of investment is in the batteries required to store the solar generated electricity, especially at a site where the power consumption spikes to such a degree on so few days through the year.  The bigger the capacitance, the more the site's electricity costs can be smoothed out.
    Obviously the solar panels ain't gonna be powering the floodlights when the lights are in use.
    Solar panels are a good good thing and can never be installed too early.
  • Chizz
    Chizz Posts: 28,337
    Billy_Mix said:
    The critical part of this sort of investment is in the batteries required to store the solar generated electricity, especially at a site where the power consumption spikes to such a degree on so few days through the year.  The bigger the capacitance, the more the site's electricity costs can be smoothed out.
    Obviously the solar panels ain't gonna be powering the floodlights when the lights are in use.
    Solar panels are a good good thing and can never be installed too early.
    They should install the solar panels below the floodlights.  Free power!
  • jose
    jose Posts: 622
    My understanding is that on days like today solar pannelists can sell excess electricity to the national grid.
  • Uboat
    Uboat Posts: 12,195
    Chizz said:
    Billy_Mix said:
    The critical part of this sort of investment is in the batteries required to store the solar generated electricity, especially at a site where the power consumption spikes to such a degree on so few days through the year.  The bigger the capacitance, the more the site's electricity costs can be smoothed out.
    Obviously the solar panels ain't gonna be powering the floodlights when the lights are in use.
    Solar panels are a good good thing and can never be installed too early.
    They should install the solar panels below the floodlights.  Free power!
    👏
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  • Henry Irving
    Henry Irving Posts: 85,225
    tallboy said:
    cafcnick1992 said:
    How does this work with Duchatelet owning the ground? We're just increasing the value of his asset?
    Working life of Solar panels and their other components like inverters is about 15 years and the existing lease with Duchatelet goes beyond that. The club will be responsible for getting them removed at the end of their working life span but probably that has been factored into the financial calculations. 
    Existing lease with RD is 10 years
  • eastterrace6168
    eastterrace6168 Posts: 22,525
    edited June 17
    I live in eternal hope that something will happen soon and we will wake up from the nightmare of Roland bloody Duchats and the ownership fiasco...
  • DessieValley
    DessieValley Posts: 340
    edited June 17
    cafcnick1992 said:
    How does this work with Duchatelet owning the ground? We're just increasing the value of his asset?
    To use buying a house as an example, I've heard people having issues selling houses with solar panels as 1) not clear who owns the panels and charge against mortgage and 2) potential damage to roof re water pooling against the rafters. 

    But probably not relevant to use house buying examples on this forum.......
  • Mendonca In Asdas
    Mendonca In Asdas Posts: 22,650
    Glad this fixes the wifi issues.
  • Gribbo
    Gribbo Posts: 8,485
    Swisdom said:
    golfaddick said:
    Just fix the internet /wifi connection  !!
    my father was invited to sponsor the free Wi-Fi about five years ago. It was only going to cost £50,000 a year.  it was a very short conversation
    Free Wi-Fi, the Korean old skool number 9? Didn't even know we had him tbh
  • MartinCAFC
    MartinCAFC Posts: 3,219
    Pelham123 said:
    Don’t know if they already do it but they could harvest plenty of rainwater off the stands also. No brainier.
    Already being collected via the leak in the Covered End roof.
  • Gribbo
    Gribbo Posts: 8,485
    Pelham123 said:
    Don’t know if they already do it but they could harvest plenty of rainwater off the stands also. No brainier.
    Yeah, and stick a couple of wind turbines up and graze a few head of cattle on the pitch. Fark it
  • Athletico Charlton
    Athletico Charlton Posts: 14,275
    I remember suggesting the club look into this a couple of years ago on here and being shot down by one poster. 
    Anyway, I think it's a great idea, should in the long term reduce outgoings and possibly we earn a little through selling back to the grid.
    I guess we will need landlord consent so will need to consult RD.
    I wonder if we will also look at it on a smaller scale at Sparrows Lane.
  • valleynick66
    valleynick66 Posts: 4,890
    The pigeons have to nest somewhere after all. 🙂
  • tallboy
    tallboy Posts: 115
    edited June 17
    Henry Irving said:
    tallboy said:
    cafcnick1992 said:
    How does this work with Duchatelet owning the ground? We're just increasing the value of his asset?
    Working life of Solar panels and their other components like inverters is about 15 years and the existing lease with Duchatelet goes beyond that. The club will be responsible for getting them removed at the end of their working life span but probably that has been factored into the financial calculations. 
    Existing lease with RD is 10 years
    Well thats not good news then! The original point made by cafcnick1992 is then very valid i.e. we are danger of lining RD's pockets with this investment.

    Its staing the bloody obvious but with such a short lease that "issue" is going to become increasingly more relevant ie why invest long term in The Valley and Sparrows Lane when the existing lease is so short?


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