Historic tennis club AELTC installs solar thermal system at Wimbledon pavilion
The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, the organization behind the Wimbledon Championships, has taken a practical step in sustainability — and one that club owners worldwide can relate to.
In partnership with Barclays Bank and UK cleantech developer Naked Energy, AELTC has installed 130 VirtuHOT solar thermal collectors on its training grounds. The installation was carried out by VitoEnergy, and the system now supplies hot water to the showers, gym, and kitchens in the Aorangi Pavilion — a facility used daily by players during the Championships and throughout the year.
This move is part of AELTC’s broader strategy to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030 — a goal increasingly relevant for energy-intensive sports venues. The organization sees the initiative not just as a technological upgrade, but as a commitment to a more sustainable future for sport.
The collectors are expected to produce 36.5 MWh of renewable heat per year, significantly reducing carbon emissions from the pavilion’s daily operations.
This move is part of AELTC’s broader strategy to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030 — a goal increasingly relevant for energy-intensive sports venues. The organization sees the initiative not just as a technological upgrade, but as a commitment to a more sustainable future for sport.
Barclays also released a short video outlining the motivation behind the project, its environmental impact, and installation highlights.
“During the Championships, the system itself is going to produce around 3,500 litres of hot water per day, and annually that is about six tonnes of carbon will be saved over its lifetime,” said Naked Energy CEO Christophe Williams.
For AELTC, the adoption of solar thermal technology is both a pilot initiative and a statement of intent. As the club explores ways to decarbonize its infrastructure, partnerships with innovative clean energy providers have become a key part of the strategy.
“The solar thermal installation is hugely important because it’s the first time we’ve used this technology on site. For AELTC, it’s really important to collaborate with Barclays to bring in the innovation of Naked Energy so we can achieve our goals,” said AELTC Sustainability Manager Hattie Park.
While the AELTC operates on a different scale, this case illustrates a broader shift: energy efficiency is becoming part of core club operations. Solar thermal systems like this — designed to supply hot water for showers, gyms, and kitchens — are increasingly accessible to facilities of all sizes, not just elite venues like AELTC.
Cover photo: Screenshot from Barclays’ project video
