Published: 17 March 2026

From: Environment

Crawley Borough Council, working with Blue Electric Contractors Ltd, is nearing completion of the installation of a new 69kWh solar photovoltaic (PV) system at Tilgate Park, marking a further milestone in the council’s commitment to sustainability and reducing carbon emissions.

The council has announced a climate and nature emergency and is taking action to drive down its emissions. It has committed to move its fleet from diesel to Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil and has already installed solar panels at its K2 Crawley leisure centre. In the first month, the K2 Crawley panels generated the equivalent of planting 584 trees, saving 9.6 tonnes of CO2.

The new solar panels in Tilgate Park are positioned to maximise sunlight and will help power key facilities within the park including Tilgate Zoo, lower energy costs and reduce reliance on non renewable sources. It is expected to save £15,000 a year on energy costs.

The installation supports the council’s wider environmental strategy, which focuses on cutting carbon emissions, increasing renewable energy generation, and improving energy efficiency at our facilities.

Delivering this project in partnership with Crawley Borough Council is something we’re genuinely proud of. As a Crawley-based contractor, working in our local community means a great deal to us, and Blue Electric has invested heavily in the skills, systems and people needed to deliver reliable solar energy — so it’s fantastic to support the council in reducing our town’s carbon footprint. A big thank you as well to Amphibian Scaffolding for providing safe, reliable access to the roofs and the team at Tilgate Park for helping keep this project moving safely and efficiently.

Lee Whitbym

Director

Blue Electric Contactors

This installation is an important step forward in meeting our sustainability targets. By investing in renewable energy at Tilgate Park, we’re not only reducing our carbon footprint but also demonstrating our commitment to protecting the environment for future generations. This project shows how local actions can make a real difference in supporting our long term climate goals.

Councillor Chris Mullins

Cabinet member for Leisure and Wellbeing

Crawley Borough Council

tags: environment