Preston North End FC
How Saber funded a blended solar PV and CHP system at Deepdale under a 15-year PPA. Zero capital outlay, £1.56m in projected savings, up to 80% on-site generation.
A 120kW Solar PV array and 180kW hydrogen-ready CHP engine at Preston North End FC’s Deepdale Stadium, funded by Saber under a zero-capex 15-year Power Purchase Agreement.
The challenge
Deepdale has been home to football for more than 150 years, and as one of the world’s oldest professional grounds, balancing heritage with modern infrastructure is an ongoing challenge.
Faced with rising energy costs and a diesel backup generator that had reached the end of its useful life, Preston North End needed a solution that would future-proof the stadium’s energy infrastructure without taking capital away from the club’s priorities.
The solution
Saber designed a blended on-site energy system for Deepdale, combining Solar PV with a hydrogen-ready CHP engine, and delivered it under a single 15-year Power Purchase Agreement with no cost to the club.
MJ Quinn, Saber’s EPC partner, delivered the solar PV installation beginning in January 2026. 2G Energy’s hydrogen-ready CHP engine followed in February. Both systems were fully commissioned and generating by spring 2026.
The CHP engine is hydrogen-ready, meaning it can transition to hydrogen fuel as the grid shifts away from natural gas, protecting the club’s investment as the energy market evolves. It also replaces the diesel generator, removing ageing infrastructure and reducing the club’s dependence on grid supply.
The results
Together, the two systems generate approximately 1,208,532 kWh per year, covering up to 80% of the club’s annual consumption of 1,540,587 kWh. Savings start at £84,000 in year one, rising to £1,560,467 across the 15-year term.
Preston North End has no maintenance responsibility for the agreement term and owns both systems outright at the end.
“After careful consideration and taking the expert advice of the Saber team, the blended power route was considered to be the best energy generation route to suit the stadium both now and into the future. As well as providing a sustainable energy source, it will also result in significant cost savings over the term of the agreement.”
Kevin Abbot, Finance Director, Preston North End FC
See what a blended PPA could deliver for your site.
Saber designs, funds, and manages blended on-site energy systems under a single PPA.
