A HUGE solar power system has been unveiled at Clevedon Town Football Club.

More than 200 photovoltaic panels have been installed on the roof of the Hand Stadium in Davis Lane with the aim of cutting the club’s energy bills and carbon footprint.

It is estimated the system will generate 44,000 kilowatt hours of free electricity every year – more than enough to run the floodlights for the club’s home games this season.

Covering an area the size of two tennis courts, the panels will meet much of the venue’s total electricity demand and will also save more than 25 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year from being released into the atmosphere.

It has been installed at the venue by Backwell-based company, Solarsense, and has been put in as part of a major overhaul of the site by owner, Mark Lewis, who bought the venue nine months ago.

Since then he has modernised the conference facilities, upgraded the Vibe nightclub facilities, renovated the all-weather pitch and upgraded the changing rooms.

Mr Lewis said: “We have carried out an extensive programme of improvements to make the stadium a first-class facility.

“At the same time we want to substantially reduce our carbon emissions and the new solar energy system will go a long way toward helping us do that.”