THE iconic De La Warr Pavilion has taken a major step towards a greener future after becoming the first building in the UK to install a pioneering new type of ultra-lightweight solar panel.
A total of 144 specialist panels have been fitted to the roof of the Grade I listed Bexhill landmark as part of its wider ‘An Icon For Everyone’ transformation project, delivered in partnership with Rother District Council.
The new solar array is expected to generate around 71,500kWh of electricity each year – enough to provide approximately 20 per cent of the Pavilion’s annual electricity needs while cutting carbon emissions by around 18 tonnes annually.
Because of the Pavilion’s historic status and its original steel roof structure, specially designed lightweight panels were chosen for the project. Weighing just 7.2kg per square metre, they are among the lightest high-performance solar panels currently available and are believed to be the first of their kind to be installed anywhere in the UK.
The system has also been designed so battery storage could be added in the future, further reducing the building’s reliance on the electricity grid.
Stewart Drew, Chief Executive and Director of the De La Warr Pavilion, said the installation marked an important milestone during the building’s 90th anniversary year.
He said: “It’s a milestone moment that reflects our ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability, strengthening the long-term resilience of the building and reducing its environmental impact. These super-lightweight panels have been carefully chosen to preserve the integrity of this Grade I listed modernist landmark.”
Councillor Kathryn Field, Rother District Council’s portfolio holder for the environment, said the project represented a significant investment in reducing the Pavilion’s carbon footprint and demonstrated the commitment of local partners to tackling climate change.
The installation was funded through Rother District Council’s Community Infrastructure Levy Climate Emergency Bonus Fund and forms part of the Pavilion’s wider redevelopment programme, which includes improvements to learning and community spaces, accessibility, galleries and the auditorium, helping secure its future as one of Bexhill’s most important cultural venues.
