Pontarddulais Town FC has fitted 30 solar panels to its changing rooms, backed up by battery storage to capture and use the energy produced. The £23,130 package was funded through the Rural Anchor Fund via the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund — part of a scheme that has already launched 17 renewable energy projects across rural Swansea.
Volunteer coach Grant Poiner said:
“By generating and storing renewable energy on‑site, the club will significantly reduce its reliance on the grid, cut carbon emissions, and lower energy bills.
These savings will be reinvested into our grassroots football and community programmes, ensuring that the club remains accessible and affordable for everyone.
We are really grateful for the support of the fund to enable us to lower our carbon emissions and help us become more sustainable as a club.”
Pontarddulais Town isn’t the only team to benefit. South Gower Rugby Club has secured £21,000 for new LED floodlights to brighten up its pitch.
Between 2023 and 2025, Swansea Council says it has helped share more than £716,000 across 54 rural projects. Seventeen of those have focused on renewable energy, while others have backed volunteering schemes, local markets, visitor trails, biodiversity projects and feasibility studies.
Cabinet Member for Environment and Infrastructure Andrew Stevens said:
“There has been a wide range of projects all across Swansea’s rural communities that have secured funding during the last two years and have put the money to good use.
Everyone is benefitting, whether it’s young people playing sports or families wanting to go for guided walks through some of our wonderful countryside.
The funding we have received is going to make a difference not just for the communities involved, but also for those who visit them.”
For Pontarddulais Town FC, the solar switch means lower bills, greener football, and more money pumped back into the grassroots game.
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