Payback
2.7 years
China Fleet Country Club
How ZLC Energy’s experts developed a plan to help one of the South West’s leading country club and leisure facilities to save £55,000 a year in energy costs.
Annual ENErgy saving
Over £55,000
Annual ROI
37%
About The China Fleet Country Club
China Fleet Country Club is based in Saltash, just outside Plymouth, and set in 180 acres of countryside. It has an 18-hole golf course, health club, self-catering apartments, swimming pool, spa, restaurants, conference and wedding facilities.
An established charity, China Fleet’s founding mission was to provide sporting and leisure activities to all non-commissioned officers and ratings of the Royal Navy, Royal Marines and Royal Navy and Royal Marine reserves and their immediate family.
What was their goal?
With a range of leisure, food, and retail facilities on offer, China Fleet’s annual energy bills of around £250,000 led it to seek ways to reduce its running costs without compromising the level of service it offers guests.
In 2016, China Fleet used 1,790,080 kWh of electricity at a cost of £208,723, and 2,191,200 kWh of gas at a cost of £37,740.
They were also interested in gaining a grant for this work, so we helped them to secure a £10,000 Carbon Trust ‘Green Business Fund’ grant towards the cost of the installation.
How did we help?
After monitoring China Fleet’s energy consumption, the ZLC Energy team recommended installing a Combined Heat and Power (CHP) unit. This cogeneration system produces both heat and electricity from a single energy source, typically gas. This highly efficient technology supplies power to the building while providing hot water for heating or cooling.
Once the proposal was approved, our team designed and refined the system, managed the grid applications and approvals, sourced a Viessmann 70/115 CHP unit, and carried out the installation with no disruption to operations. The project was then commissioned and began delivering immediate energy savings.
The system now provides annual savings of over £55,000, with a payback period of just 2.7 years and an impressive return on investment (ROI) of 37%.
The Installation
The Solar PV project took just three weeks to complete and is expected to deliver reliable, clean energy for at least the next 25 years—making installation an easy decision for the team.
An impressive 165 kWp array of solar panels was installed on the roof of the main building, providing around 16% of the Club’s total energy needs and saving an estimated 95,000 kg of carbon every year.
“As a company, we’re aiming for Net Zero carbon use by 2030. The installation of the solar array is a major step towards that goal, and it also significantly reduces our energy costs—particularly important at a time when prices have risen so dramatically. One of our key priorities was ensuring minimal disruption for our visitors and members. The installation was completed so discreetly that most people didn’t even realise it was happening, allowing us to stay fully open throughout.”
— Dean Bennett, Managing Director, China Fleet Country Club
Client testimonials
View Our Services
-
Solar PV
Solar is one of the most popular and effective ways for businesses to reduce costs and carbon emissions. We design and install commercial solar PV systems tailored to your site and energy goals, helping you generate clean, reliable power and become more energy independent, all with honest advice and quality workmanship.
Learn more -
Battery Storage
We design smart battery storage systems that give your business greater control over its energy. Store excess power from solar or wind, reduce grid dependency, and protect your operations from rising costs, all with a future-ready solution built for resilience and reliability.
Learn more
