A £100 million investment in solar power and clean energy production in 200 hospitals has been welcomed by DAUK.
The Government announced Great British Energy’s first project will be to install solar panels and battery storage systems at NHS sites.
The projects aim to slash energy bills. Savings will be reinvested in the NHS, the Government said.
Solar power
In England, £100 million will support 200 NHS sites to install rooftop solar panels that could power operations. Leftover energy could be sold back to the grid.
The first panels are expected to be in hospitals by the end of this summer.
Dr Matt Lee, sustainability lead for the Doctors’ Association UK (DAUK), welcomed the project.
He said: “DAUK strongly supports this investment in solar power in hospitals. It will help tackle climate change and save hospitals millions of pounds over the lifetime of the panels.
Climate change
“Climate change is the greatest threat to health we face, causing thousands of deaths globally each year.
“It is therefore essential healthcare organisations lead the way in rapidly reducing carbon emissions.
“DAUK encourages the Government to look at other aspects of the health system that would have carbon, financial and health savings.
“In particular improving the insulation and heating systems of hospitals, and supporting the transition to a more sustainable public sector food procurement system in line with the latest available scientific evidence.
“We also encourage the Government to expand it’s public information messaging on the relationship between climate change and human health to accelerate climate action.
“DAUK would welcome the opportunity to explore collaboration opportunities on the expansion of Our Health, Our Planet, an information resource supported by international organisations representing more than a million healthcare professionals.”
Renewable energy
Announcing the project, the Government pointed to renewable schemes that are already saving NHS trusts money on their energy bills.
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust installed a solar canopy over the car park at its Wharfedale Hospital site. It will reduce carbon emissions by 43.7 tonnes per year and save the trust £75,000 annually.
A =project at Hull University Teaching Hospital has 11,000 solar panels which saved around £250,000 a month last summer.
The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust’s new solar farm at a former landfill site is expected to power the entire hospital site with self-generated renewable energy for around 288 days a year. It will save around £15-20 million over the next two decades.
Saving taxpayer money
Minister of State for Health Karin Smyth said: “This investment in clean energy will power our NHS while saving the taxpayer millions in energy bills.
“Crucially, we will divert the savings to where it matters most for patients and staff – frontline services.”
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