Gellideg Foundation Group

Strengthening a Community Hub Through Sustainable Energy

Gellideg Foundation Group

Strengthening a Community Hub Through Sustainable Energy

Solution

Solar, Battery Storage & ASHP

Storage Installed

37.3 kWh

ASHP

2 x 30 kW

Renewable energy system delivered at Gellideg Wellbeing Centre, Merthyr Tydfil

For organisations like the Gellideg Foundation Group (GFG), energy costs don’t just affect overheads, they directly impact how much support can be delivered to the community.


The GFG operates from the their Wellbeing Centre, the first community owned Passivhaus in Wales. As a self-funded charity supporting more than 600 people a week, the GFG operates under constant pressure  to balance rising costs with growing demand for its services. At the same time, energy has become an increasing and unavoidable expense, placing additional strain on already stretched resources.


To address this, a new on-site energy system has been designed and delivered by Nuvolt to reduce operating costs, improve long-term stability and support the future sustainability of the centre.


Crucially, the project was supported through funding from the Welsh Government’s Ynni Cymru programme, which is focused on expanding community-owned renewable energy across Wales. For the Gellideg Wellbeing Centre, this support was instrumental in enabling the project to move forward, providing a route to reduce long-term energy costs and take greater control over how energy is generated and used on site.

Renewable energy system delivered at Gellideg Wellbeing Centre, Merthyr Tydfil

For organisations like the Gellideg Foundation Group (GFG), energy costs don’t just affect overheads, they directly impact how much support can be delivered to the community.


The GFG operates from the their Wellbeing Centre, the first community owned Passivhaus in Wales. As a self-funded charity supporting more than 600 people a week, the GFG operates under constant pressure  to balance rising costs with growing demand for its services. At the same time, energy has become an increasing and unavoidable expense, placing additional strain on already stretched resources.


To address this, a new on-site energy system has been designed and delivered by Nuvolt to reduce operating costs, improve long-term stability and support the future sustainability of the centre.


Crucially, the project was supported through funding from the Welsh Government’s Ynni Cymru programme, which is focused on expanding community-owned renewable energy across Wales. For the Gellideg Wellbeing Centre, this support was instrumental in enabling the project to move forward, providing a route to reduce long-term energy costs and take greater control over how energy is generated and used on site.

A centre built around community impact

Operated by the Gellideg Foundation Group, the Wellbeing Centre plays a vital role within the local community in Merthyr Tydfil.


From supporting people in poor health to delivering youth services, food programmes and financial support, the centre provides essential services to individuals and families across the borough. 


Each week, around 600 people access the centre, supported by a team of staff and more than 30 volunteers. 


Maintaining a safe, warm and fully operational building is therefore critical, but it comes at a cost.



As a charity that raises its own funding, every increase in energy spend reduces the resources available to deliver these services. Reducing that burden was not just a sustainability goal, it was essential to protecting the centre’s long-term role in the community.

Designing a system around how the building operates

Working closely with the Gellideg Foundation Group, Nuvolt developed an integrated energy solution designed specifically around how the building is used day to day, ensuring that performance improvements could be achieved without disrupting the services delivered from the centre.


The system includes:

  • A 32.2 kWp solar PV system, consisting of 70 rooftop panels, generating electricity directly on site


  • A 37.3 kWh battery storage system, enabling excess generation to be stored and used when required


  • Two air source heat pumps, replacing traditional gas-based heating with a more efficient, low-carbon alternative


Together, these technologies form a fully integrated system that aligns generation, storage and demand, reducing reliance on grid electricity while improving overall energy performance.

“Projects like this aren’t just about installing technology, they’re about understanding how a building is used and what it needs to continue functioning properly. In Gellideg’s case, it was essential that the centre remained fully operational throughout, so the system had to be designed around that reality. By aligning generation, storage and heating, the result is a solution that strengthens long-term resilience without disrupting the services people depend on.”


— Owen Thomas-Thorne, Contracts Manager, Nuvolt

Reducing costs and improving long-term stability

The impact of the system extends well beyond energy generation.


The combined technologies are expected to reduce the centre’s annual energy costs by approximately £18,000, a significant saving for a self-funded organisation that relies on fundraising to sustain its operations.


Over time, this will result in minimal reliance on grid electricity and the complete removal of gas costs, creating a more predictable and stable operating environment.


For the centre, this represents a step change in financial resilience. Lower operating costs reduce the need to fundraise simply to cover overheads, allowing more resources to be directed towards delivering services, supporting the people who rely on the centre and expanding community programmes.

Designed to operate in the background


without disruption, both during the installation and once the system was in place.

From the perspective of staff and visitors, the building continues to function exactly as it always has, remaining warm, powered and fully accessible throughout the year.


The real impact is seen behind the scenes, in reduced energy costs, improved efficiency and greater control over how energy is generated and used.



Supporting the future of the centre and the community


For the the Gellideg Foundation Group, this project represents more than an infrastructure upgrade.


It is an investment in the long-term sustainability of the organisation and the services it provides, helping to secure its role as a community hub where people can connect, access support and improve their wellbeing.


By reducing energy costs and improving efficiency, the centre is better positioned to continue delivering essential services, while maintaining a safe, warm and accessible environment for the community all year round.

A system designed for long-term impact

“This system is not only good for the planet, it’s an investment in the future sustainability of our organisation. By reducing our energy costs, we can focus more of our resources on supporting the community.”


Helen Buhaenko — Co-Director at The Gellideg Foundation Group 


Delivering outcomes that matter


This project demonstrates how integrated energy systems, when designed around how a building actually operates, can deliver more than environmental benefits.


By reducing costs, improving predictability and lowering reliance on external energy, they enable organisations to operate more efficiently, strengthen their financial position and focus on what matters most.


For Gellideg, that means continuing to support the people who rely on the centre every day.

A system designed for long-term impact

“This system is not only good for the planet, it’s an investment in the future sustainability of our organisation. By reducing our energy costs, we can focus more of our resources on supporting the community.”


Helen Buhaenko — Co-Director at The Gellideg Foundation Group 


Delivering outcomes that matter


This project demonstrates how integrated energy systems, when designed around how a building actually operates, can deliver more than environmental benefits.


By reducing costs, improving predictability and lowering reliance on external energy, they enable organisations to operate more efficiently, strengthen their financial position and focus on what matters most.


For Gellideg, that means continuing to support the people who rely on the centre every day.