Storyhouse Continues to Enhance Sustainability with Solar Panel Installation.

Storyhouse has made another major step in its commitment to sustainability with the installation of solar panels on its roof, made possible through funding from the Theatres Trust’s Theatre Improvement Scheme, in partnership with the Wolfson Foundation and Cheshire West and Chester Council’s Climate Emergency Fund.

The installation of these panels will help to expand the theatre’s solar energy infrastructure and triple the solar energy capacity, leading to lower carbon emissions, greater self-sustained power generation, and significant cost savings.

As a vital warm hub for Chester residents, these sustainability improvements are essential in helping to continue to provide a welcoming and energy-efficient space for the community.

This is one of those projects that isn’t always visible to the public but makes a huge difference behind the scenes.

These new panels mean we can cut our carbon footprint and our energy bills at the same time - which is good news for the planet and for keeping Storyhouse open, warm, and welcoming for everyone. A huge thank you to everyone who’s worked so hard to get them installed, including our staff, our partner DomElec and Cheshire West & Chester Council colleagues.

Bringing solar to the Storyhouse, such an iconic building in Chester, was a dream come true for Domelec.

The journey from the proposal to installation was the realisation of a shared vision. It’s felt a very collaborative effort and what is a technically challenging project; a large solar installation in the centre of a busy city on top of an extremely active building brought its challenges, but I’m glad to say it’s all gone brilliantly. It’s not just about cutting energy costs, it’s about sustainability taking centre stage and now the sun powers the spotlight and we’ve been honoured to be involved!

Cllr Louise Gittins from Chester West and Chester Council, said: “Supporting Storyhouse through our Climate Emergency Fund, backed by the Shared Prosperity Fund, is a powerful example of how we can invest in our cultural institutions while tackling climate change. Installing solar panels at this much-loved cultural space not only reduces carbon emissions but also helps secure a more sustainable future for our community organisations.”

In partnership with the Wolfson Foundation, Theatres Trust allocated £20,000 to Storyhouse to support their work towards environmental sustainability. This contribution combined with over £25,000 from Cheshire West and Chester Council’s Climate Emergency Fund covered one third of the overall cost, with Storyhouse making its own significant invest-to-save commitment which has enabled the installation of 209 additional solar panels resulting in an annual CO2 saving of over 48,000kg.

The installation is part of an ongoing effort by Storyhouse to evolve its environmental practices, which also includes reducing waste wherever possible, sustainable programming, and engaging audiences in climate-conscious storytelling and events.