The Switch-On Event brought together players, partners, community figures and project stakeholders, highlighting the collaborative effort behind the installation.
In attendance were:
Tom Fellows and Jay Robinson – Men’s First Team players
Harry Gathercole and Korban McMullan – U18 Academy players
Councillor John Savage of Southampton City Council
Key staff from Southampton FC and Utilita
The event opened with a welcome address from Greg Baker, Chief Revenue Officer at Southampton FC, and Bill Bullen, Chief Executive Officer of Utilita Energy, highlighting the importance of sport-led leadership in sustainability and community responsibility.
This was followed by a project presentation from Darren Pollard, Head of Estates at Southampton FC, who outlined the delivery of the installation, the technical scope of the project, and its long-term environmental and operational benefits for the club.
“This partnership demonstrates how organisations can turn ambition into action” said Bill Bullen, Chief Executive Officer, Utilita Energy. “Today’s switch-on is not just symbolic. It’s practical, measurable progress towards a cleaner energy future.”
The solar installation is expected to contribute a significant proportion of the site’s electricity demand, reduce reliance on grid power, and deliver long-term cost and carbon savings. It will generate around 20 percent of the total annual electricity consumption at the Pavilion. This will stabilise energy costs and generate savings of £0.06 million over the next 20 years, as well as displacing the emission of 33,000 kilograms of carbon dioxide per year.
“This is a great moment for the club” added Greg Baker, Chief Revenue Officer, Southampton FC. “What began as a sustainability commitment has now become a visible, working renewable energy solution that will benefit Southampton FC for years to come. This project shows how football can drive meaningful environmental change.”
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