Hospitals across Derby and Burton boost solar power to support a greener NHS
Hospitals across Derby and Burton are turning to the sun to help power patient care, with a major expansion of solar energy now underway.
University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust (UHDB) has installed solar panels at Queen’s Hospital Burton, Florence Nightingale Community Hospital in Derby, Sir Robert Peel Community Hospital in Tamworth, and Samuel Johnson Community Hospital in Lichfield. Once fully operational, the panels will generate clean electricity on site, reducing the Trust’s reliance on traditional energy sources.
Together, the new installations are expected to produce over one million kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity each year - enough to power around 250-300 typical UK homes. They are also expected to save more than 259 tonnes of carbon emissions annually.
Across the sites, more than 5,200 square metres of solar panels have been installed - roughly the size of around 20 tennis courts - making use of available roof space to generate energy where it is needed most.
At Queen’s Hospital Burton, this includes installations across the main hospital buildings as well as the treatment centre, therapies, pharmacy, education facilities and other supporting areas. Similar installations are in place across clinical and outpatient buildings at Florence Nightingale, Sir Robert Peel and Samuel Johnson Community Hospitals.
The installations will come online in phases from June, as each site completes final testing and connection, with all locations expected to be operational over the summer.
The schemes at Queen’s Hospital Burton and Florence Nightingale Community Hospital have been supported by £1.8m of government funding, helping to accelerate the rollout of greener energy across NHS sites. Over the past 12 months, the Great British Energy and NHS collaboration has helped more than 260 NHS sites in England save money on bills through the solar roll-out scheme - savings that can be reinvested into frontline services.
This builds on work already underway at Royal Derby Hospital, where solar panels have been incorporated into the new multi-storey car park, as part of the Trust's wider commitment to embedding sustainability into new developments and infrastructure.
These efforts all form part of UHDB’s wider Green Plan and align with the NHS’s ambition to become the world’s first net zero health service. By generating renewable energy on site, UHDB is reducing carbon emissions, lowering energy costs, and helping to create a more sustainable healthcare system for patients, staff and local communities.
Andrew Selby, UHDB's Director of Estates and Facilities, said: “Using solar power is a simple, practical way we can reduce our impact on the environment while still supporting the care we provide every day. By making the most of our roof space, we are generating clean energy where we use it, cutting carbon and being more efficient with our resources.
"It’s about doing the right thing for the future while also making sure we are using public money wisely today, and projects like this help us build a more sustainable NHS for our patients, our staff and our communities.”
Chris Gormley, Chief Sustainability Officer, NHS England said: “As Great British Energy marks its first year, it’s fantastic that 162 NHS sites have completed their solar installations.
“This represents important progress in expanding solar generation across the NHS because every pound saved on energy bills is a pound that can go back into patient care. These solar panels are helping trusts across the country do exactly that.
"Together with Great British Energy, we're building an NHS that is greener, more sustainable and better placed to serve patients for years to come.”