The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust has been awarded £317,668 to install solar panels at Russells Hall Hospital, saving £34,705 a year and supporting investment into frontline care.
This funding came following last week’s announcement from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero that it had received a package of £100 million from Great British Energy for the NHS to install solar power and battery storage solutions to help drive down energy bills, offering better value for the taxpayer.
Chris Walker, interim director of finance at The Dudley Group said: “We are delighted to have secured funding for solar PV installation on our building, a significant step towards our net-zero goals. This investment will cut energy costs, increase energy resilience, and support the NHS’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions. We remain committed to delivering a net-zero retained estate by 2040 and will continue to explore opportunities to enhance energy efficiency and sustainability.”
Investing in renewable energy generation will deliver reductions in energy costs that can be redirected into frontline care. These new solar panel installation projects are expected to deliver savings of around £8.6 million a year, and up to £260 million over the panel’s lifetime across the NHS.
Diane Wake, chief executive of The Dudley Group said: “By embracing renewable energy, we are not only reducing our carbon footprint but also ensuring a healthier and more sustainable future for our patients, staff and the communities we serve.”
Chief Sustainability Officer at NHS England, Chris Gormley said: “Thanks to the dedication of teams nationwide, the NHS has already implemented hundreds of projects that enhance energy efficiency and drive significant cost savings. This groundbreaking new investment, across 78 NHS Trusts on around 200 sites, will expand solar power generation within the NHS by over 300%, slashing energy costs by hundreds of millions of pounds. These vital savings can be reinvested directly into frontline care, ensuring the NHS continues to deliver for our patients and communities.”
