Client
The All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC)
Location
Centre Court, Wimbledon
Project
Remanufacture of Centre Court floodlights and bespoke LED downlights
Programme
Phase One: January 2026
Phase Two: June 2026
Services
- BSI 8887-220 accredited lighting remanufacturing
- LED upgrades
- Bespoke 3D printed components
- Supply of specified downlights
The Challenge
The All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) wanted to upgrade the lighting on Centre Court without replacing all of the existing luminaires.
Rather than fully specifying new fittings, AELTC chose a remanufacturing approach that would retain the existing assets while delivering modern LED performance, lower energy consumption and a significant reduction in embodied carbon.
The project also had to meet the demanding performance standards expected of one of the world’s most recognisable sporting venues, including flicker-free operation for international television broadcasting, while being completed ahead of the Wimbledon Championships.
The Solution
Working across two phases, DRK Lighting remanufactured all 44 Centre Court floodlights alongside more than 200 downlights.
The existing luminaire housings were retained in full and stripped back within The White Cube, DRK’s dedicated remanufacturing facility.
Each fitting was carefully dismantled, cleaned and inspected before being rebuilt using new LED gear, COB chips mounted to bespoke heat sinks, upgraded electrical components and flicker-free drivers. Every luminaire then underwent comprehensive testing before leaving the facility.
Alongside the remanufactured floodlights and downlights, DRK also supplied bespoke LED downlights and incorporated our additive-manufacturing 3D-printed honeycomb diffusers, improving visual comfort while maintaining excellent light output.
All remanufacturing was carried out under our BSI 8887-220 accredited remanufacturing process, ensuring every fitting met modern performance and safety standards while extending the life of the original assets.
Results
The completed project delivered measurable operational and environmental improvements while preserving the original luminaires.
Performance Improvements
- 44 Centre Court floodlights successfully remanufactured
- Over 200 downlights upgraded
- Improved lighting quality and uniformity
- Flicker-free operation suitable for broadcast environments
- Reduced maintenance requirements
- Longer expected service life
One of the most noticeable improvements was heat reduction. Prior to remanufacturing, the floodlight glass reached temperatures of approximately 152°C during operation. Following the LED upgrade, the front glass remains cool to the touch, significantly improving safety while reducing wasted energy.
The Impact
- 46% reduction in annual energy consumption
- 71,526 kWh energy saved every year
- £22,888 annual energy cost saving
- 46% reduction in operational carbon emissions
- 10.42 tonnes of embodied CO₂ avoided by remanufacturing instead of replacing the luminaires
Testimony
“DRK Lighting delivered an exceptional end product, remanufacturing the Centre Court soffit lighting to the highest standard, enhancing spectator safety during The Championships while providing reliable year-round lighting.”
– Billy Lewis AELTC
Why Remanufacture?
This project demonstrates that replacing lighting assets isn’t always the best solution.
By retaining the existing luminaire housings and upgrading only the components that matter, DRK delivered modern LED performance while dramatically reducing waste, embodied carbon and raw material consumption.
For prestigious venues like Wimbledon, remanufacturing provides a practical route to decarbonisation without compromising lighting performance or reliability.
It’s a philosophy that sits at the heart of everything we do.
Saving the planet, one remanufacture at a time.
