More than £700,000 is being invested in green energy projects for NHS buildings in Leicester and Leicestershire, with over £300,000 going to a solar scheme at UHL’s new Preston Lodge facility.
Great British Energy is providing the cash for roof mounted solar arrays as part of the drive to meet the country’s net zero targets.
These investments will reduce the NHS’s carbon emissions and reduce energy bills. The hospitals and units will still be connected to the national grid for the bulk of their electricity needs.
The solar panels will be installed at Coalville Community Hospital (£133,980), the Herschel Prins mental health unit on the Glenfield Hospital site (£117,297), at the Evington Centre and neighbouring Gwendolen House on the Leicester General site (£134,728 and £69,753 respectively), and at Preston Lodge in North Evington.
Ben Widdowson, director of estates at the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, said: “We are proud to be part of this important solar initiative alongside Great British Energy, which support our commitment to reducing our environmental impact while continuing to deliver high-quality healthcare.
“We welcome the £306,000 funding from GB Energy, which will be used to install solar panels at our new Preston Lodge site. This long-term investment will lower our carbon footprint, drastically cut our energy costs, and allow us to reinvest in sustainability and patient care.”
The new projects should all be providing electricity by the end of March 2026. The scheme is one of a number of schools and hospitals that have been announced by the government.
Chris Gormley, chief sustainability officer at NHS England, said: “Thanks to this new funding, we are set to expand solar generation by more than 300% across the NHS – slashing millions of pounds from energy bills, which can then be redirected into patient care.
“These new solar panels are expected to save the NHS £8.6 million every year once all the projects are completed, adding up to £260 million over their lifetime.
“That’s a massive leap towards a more sustainable, cost-efficient NHS – building on the great work already undertaken in the five years since we became the first healthcare system in the world to commit to reaching net zero.”