Hospitals across Cornwall are set to benefit from a major green energy initiative, with plans to install thousands of solar panels.
The Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust has secured nearly £2.2 million in national funding to fit 2,725 solar panels across 11 of its sites.
As one of 78 trusts awarded funding, it anticipates saving around £6.5 million over the panels’ lifetime.
According to Alan Bean, the trust’s sustainability programme manager, the solar panels could reduce dependency on the national grid by about 30%, potentially saving hundreds of thousands of pounds annually.
This initiative forms part of the £100 million Great British Energy scheme aimed at cutting NHS energy costs by investing in solar power and battery storage.
Mr Bean highlighted that the installations would not only lower operational expenses but also significantly reduce the trust’s carbon emissions.
He noted that the electricity generated would be equivalent to the annual energy consumption of approximately 518 homes.
Savings made could be reinvested in improving patient care or supporting further sustainability projects.