Scene Connect delivered a detailed technical and financial feasibility study for a ground-mounted solar PV installation at St Cuthbert Wanderers FC, designed to generate long-term, sustainable income for the club while contributing to local decarbonisation.
The proposed scheme comprises a c.129 kWp solar array located on land adjacent to the football pitch, with electricity supplied via a private wire connection to the nearby Scottish Water Wastewater Treatment Works. The system is expected to generate approximately 109 MWh of electricity annually, meeting around 20% of the treatment works’ demand and delivering carbon savings of approximately 16 tCO₂e per year.
Scene undertook detailed modelling of generation, demand matching, and grid constraints, identifying private wire as the most viable route given local network limitations. Financial analysis demonstrated a strong business case, with the project capable of generating approximately £300,000 in community benefit over its lifetime through electricity sales.
A key component of the study was progressing the project towards delivery. This included coordinating environmental and heritage assessments, addressing constraints such as flood risk, ecology, and archaeology, and informing a low-impact design approach using ground screw foundations and elevated infrastructure. Scene also supported the preparation and submission of a full planning application package.
Alongside the technical work, a clear delivery and governance structure was developed, centred on community ownership via a charitable vehicle with a trading subsidiary. The result is a fully developed, investment-ready project that demonstrates how community-led energy can provide long-term financial resilience while supporting local net zero ambitions.