The Snow Centre is one of the UK’s most popular indoor snow sports destinations, with sites in Hemel Hempstead and Manchester. Operating a real snow environment 365 days a year means serious energy demands, from industrial-scale refrigeration to lighting, HVAC, and snow-making equipment. When The Snow Centre looked for ways to reduce electricity costs without affecting the guest experience, they turned to Powerhub Solutions and voltage optimisation.
The Challenge: High Energy Demands in a Unique Leisure Environment
Indoor snow centres are among the most energy-intensive leisure facilities in the UK. Maintaining a sub-zero environment while keeping public areas comfortable requires enormous electrical loads. The Snow Centre’s Hemel Hempstead site runs a significant proportion of its energy through refrigeration and air conditioning systems, with 53% of its total load going to inverter-driven chillers and a further 7% to non-inverter refrigeration. Add in HVAC at 10%, legacy lighting at 3%, and kitchen and heating equipment at 15%, and the result is an electricity bill that leaves very little room for waste.
The Snow Centre needed a solution that would deliver measurable energy savings, require minimal disruption to daily operations, and pay for itself within a reasonable timeframe.
The Solution: Voltage Optimisation by Powerhub Solutions
Powerhub Solutions conducted a detailed analysis of The Snow Centre’s half-hourly energy data and load profile at the Hemel Hempstead site. The assessment identified that the incoming mains voltage was significantly higher than the optimal level for the site’s equipment.
A 1000 Amp Automatic Voltage Management unit was specified, designed to reduce the incoming supply voltage from the typical UK average of around 242V down to an efficient 220V. This reduction means every piece of voltage-dependent equipment on site, from old-style magnetic ballast lighting to refrigeration compressors, motors, pumps, and kitchen equipment, runs more efficiently, drawing less power without any change in performance.
The installation was delivered entirely by Powerhub Solutions’ in-house engineering team. No subcontractors, no outsourcing, just directly employed engineers, electricians, and project managers who take full accountability for the quality of every installation.
The Results: Verified Savings in Just 7 Weeks
The Hemel Hempstead installation was completed on 25 March 2026. Within just seven weeks of operation, the verified savings are already clear:
Cumulative savings (25 March – 15 May 2026):
- 10,654 kWh of energy saved
- 10% in cost savings
- 2,206 kg of CO2 emissions avoided
Projected annual savings:
- 104,142 kWh of energy saved per year
- 14% in annual cost savings
- 21.56 tonnes of CO2 reduced annually
- Full return on investment in just 21 months
These are not estimates. Every kilowatt hour is measured and verified through Powerhub Solutions’ monitoring and reporting system, aligned with IPMVP measurement and verification frameworks. Weekly savings reports provide The Snow Centre with complete transparency over their energy reduction.
Multi-Site Rollout: Manchester Comes Online
The results from Hemel Hempstead spoke for themselves. The Snow Centre moved quickly to roll out voltage optimisation at their Manchester site, with installation completed in May 2026.
Mark Whittaker, Site Facilities Manager at The Snow Centre Manchester, shared his experience of the installation process:
“Regarding the first fix installation over the 3 days, I found the team to be highly professional throughout. The workmanship is second to none, and I am very happy with the entire process. During the commissioning, the engineers were there the whole time providing support to ensure the site’s plant and equipment were all back online and operating correctly. The team are extremely knowledgeable and professional; they really care and are proud of their workmanship. It has been a pleasure to meet with them all.”
With the Manchester installation now live, Powerhub Solutions is excited to see the verified savings data come through over the coming weeks. Based on the strong performance at Hemel Hempstead, expectations are high.
Why Voltage Optimisation Works for Leisure and Entertainment Venues
The Snow Centre case study demonstrates why voltage optimisation is particularly effective for leisure and entertainment venues across the UK. These facilities share common characteristics that make them ideal candidates:
Heavy refrigeration loads: Whether it is an indoor snow centre, an ice rink, a swimming pool complex, or a multi-use leisure facility, refrigeration and climate control systems typically account for the largest share of electricity consumption. Voltage optimisation reduces the energy drawn by these systems without affecting temperatures or performance.
Extended operating hours: Leisure venues often operate 12 to 18 hours a day, seven days a week. The longer the equipment runs, the more energy voltage optimisation saves. A 5% reduction across a 16-hour operating day adds up to significant annual savings.
Legacy equipment alongside modern systems: Most leisure facilities have a mix of older lighting, motors, and HVAC alongside newer LED and inverter-driven systems. Voltage optimisation delivers the highest savings on legacy equipment while still benefiting modern systems.
Sustainability commitments: With increasing pressure on UK leisure operators to report on energy use and carbon emissions through SECR and ESOS, voltage optimisation provides verifiable, auditable savings data that supports compliance and sustainability reporting.
About Powerhub Solutions
Powerhub Solutions is the only company in the UK that self-delivers four proven energy reduction technologies: voltage optimisation, KBR refrigeration management, IoT energy monitoring, and solar PV. With a team of 14+ in-house engineers, Powerhub has saved over 166.5 million kWh and reduced more than 55,000 tonnes of CO2 for UK businesses including Greene King, Punch Pubs, Mercure Hotels, Azzurri Group, and now The Snow Centre.
Every installation comes with a 100% savings guarantee. If Powerhub proposes a saving and does not deliver it in full, the difference is credited back.
Ready to find out how much your venue could save? Use our free Voltage Optimisation Savings Calculator or get in touch with our team to book a free energy assessment.
