In September, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and Great British Energy announced up to £75 million investment for multiple military sites, and more schools and NHS trusts, to roll out solar panels.
We have now been awarded a further £2.2 million to install more solar panels at Auckland Park Hospital, Lanchester Road Hospital, West Park Hospital, Foss Park Hospital and Cross Lane Hospital helping to generate clean power and deliver further reductions in energy costs.
The NHS is the single biggest public sector energy user, with an estimated annual energy bill of around £1.3 billion, that has almost doubled since 2019.
Thanks to Great British Energy, the 34 trusts awarded funding will see estimated combined lifetime energy bill savings of up to £65 million over the next 30 years, to be reinvested in frontline services.
In total, Great British Energy’s solar scheme is now worth up to £255 million, supporting around 250 schools, around 260 NHS sites and around 15 military sites across the country.
TEWV’s solar project involves installing over 3,000 solar panels across five hospital sites by March 2026 with expected annual savings of £270,000 on our electricity costs.
Simon Adamson, director of estates, facilities and capital development at Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We’re committed to reducing our impact on the environment while delivering excellent healthcare. This funding supports us to do just that. The solar panels will bring green energy to our hospital sites across Durham, Darlington and North Yorkshire, saving us money that can be used to provide safe and kind care to our communities.”
