St Giles’ Church Pontefract
Installing Solar Panels on a Grade II Listed Church
St Giles' Church sits at the heart of Pontefract’s Town Centre Market Square. This Grade II listed church is a vital community hub. As energy prices rose year after year, the church faced mounting challenges to remain open, welcoming, and sustainable.
Keeping energy costs under control was critical for St Giles’ Church to continue serving its congregation and the local community. The leadership wanted to reduce expenses and carbon emissions by generating their own green electricity.
However, the church’s historical status as a Grade II star listed building meant strict heritage and planning regulations. Its code 5 lead roof added another technical hurdle, complicating safe installation of new solar technology.
The church’s busy location amplified these challenges. Access for contractors and materials was limited, and any major works risked disrupting both church activities and the surrounding market square. Securing permissions and coordinating timelines with local authorities took detailed planning and patience.
Project Background
To make the project possible, St Giles’ Church secured full funding through the government’s VCSE Energy Efficiency Scheme after an Energy Oasis energy audit. The scheme is aimed at community organisations seeking to lower their carbon footprint and improve efficiency. While Energy Oasis was not involved in the grant application, we provided the technical information and system design details required to meet funding requirements.
VCSE Energy Efficiency Scheme
Energy Oasis began with a thorough site review, carefully balancing the church’s energy needs against the building’s architectural character. Our team consulted with planning authorities to ensure compliance and gathered structural data to guarantee the roof could support the chosen technology.
We developed a solar PV solution tailored for listed buildings. In total, we installed 26 JA Solar 405W panels along with 26 SolarEdge Optimisers and a single SolarEdge Inverter. Installation techniques were selected to preserve the visual and structural integrity of the historic roof, securing all necessary permissions throughout.
To further enhance energy efficiency, an immersion controller was installed to divert excess solar power into water heating. This increased the church’s use of its own renewable electricity, driving even greater value from the system.
Client Testimonial:
"In early 2023 they (Energy Oasis) came along and created a scheme that suited our needs exactly. They helped in acquiring the relevant permissions and guided us through all the stages. The scheme fitted our profile and has been a great success since commission in early 2025. Following installation the system has been trouble free and has performed beyond our expectations. It has reduced our dependence on fossil fuels which was one of our fundamental requirements and is set to be a great help in our ultimate goal of achieving net zero."
-Peter Lavine MBE.
Assessment and Solar PV System Installation
Alongside the installation, Energy Oasis helped St Giles Church review and optimise their energy contracts. Carefully selecting the most beneficial energy procurement options maximised savings from their new clean energy supply.
We continue to provide insights and support, ensuring the church understands its energy use and identifies future opportunities for further reductions in cost and carbon emissions.
Providing Energy Procurement
Before and After
Summary of Project Benefits
The completed project delivered measurable results that aligned with St Giles’ goals:
8.81 MWh (8,810 kWh) of renewable energy generated annually
£2,000+ in cost savings each year
1.7 tonnes of CO₂ emissions avoided annually (the equivalent of planting 78 trees)
Reduced reliance on the energy grid by 33%
Energy Oasis specialises in renewable energy solutions for historic and community properties. If you’re looking to cut costs, reduce your carbon footprint, or navigate the challenges of installing solar panels for listed buildings, contact us today to start your energy transformation.