Great British Energy Funds Solar Panels for 260 NHS Sites to Cut £65m Energy Costs

Great British Energy, a publicly owned UK energy company, is expanding its solar panel funding program to support 34 NHS trusts across England, adding solar installations at around 70 new sites including hospitals and mental health facilities. This expansion brings the total number of NHS sites benefiting from the program to about 260, with the scheme also covering roughly 250 schools and 15 military sites. The initiative aims to reduce NHS energy bills, which have nearly doubled since 2019 to about £1.34 billion annually, by providing clean, homegrown energy and enabling the sale of surplus power back to the grid. The program's lifetime energy cost savings are estimated at up to £65 million for the newly funded trusts and up to £325 million across all participating NHS sites, allowing more funds to be reinvested into frontline healthcare services. The government has increased total funding for this solar rollout to £255 million, with up to £30 million allocated specifically to NHS trusts. Officials emphasize that this investment supports the NHS's sustainability goals and strengthens energy security while cutting costs.