UK Government Spends £700,000 on Public Sector Solar and BESS Installations

UK Government Spends £700,000 on Public Sector Solar and BESS Installations

The NHS installations backed by Great British Energy had a combined project cost of £704,332 and a total installed capacity of 474kW.

The UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has announced the latest sites to install rooftop solar PV using funding from the state-owned energy company Great British Energy (GB Energy).

In March, GB Energy’s first major project was revealed: a £200 million commitment to install solar PV at schools and hospitals. Since then:

• 11 primary schools have received rooftop solar PV installations
• Over the summer, the first five NHS sites were completed

The NHS projects had a combined cost of £704,332 with 474kW installed capacity.
The school projects totalled £1.3 million and 526kW installed.

According to DESNZ, the combined energy bill savings from these installations will total approximately £3.8 million.

Massive Savings Potential Across the NHS

Chris Gormley, Chief Sustainability Officer at NHS England, said GB Energy’s funding will expand solar generation 300% across the NHS, which is:

“Expected to save the NHS £8.6 million every year once all the projects are completed, adding up to £260 million over their lifetime.”

The NHS is the UK’s largest public sector energy user, with an estimated £1.4 billion annual energy bill, more than double what it was in 2019.

DESNZ projects that lifetime energy savings for schools and hospitals could reach up to £400 million as a result of GB Energy’s continued investment.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband called this the government’s:
“Clean energy superpower mission in action.”

All awarded schools and hospitals are expected to have their solar PV arrays installed and operational by April 2026.

GB Energy’s Broader Role in Clean Power 2030

Earlier this month, Ed Miliband outlined GB Energy’s future role:

• Investing in emerging and established clean technologies
• Supporting domestic supply chains
• Driving local and community energy through a Local Power Plan

This Local Power Plan includes public sector solar rollouts to ensure that communities feel the local benefits of clean energy:
✔ Lower bills
✔ Job creation
✔ Public service support
✔ Economic growth

Expanding to Community Buildings Across England

GB Energy has also allocated £10 million in grant funding to mayoral authorities to support renewable energy projects in community buildings. These include:

• Libraries
• Fire stations
• Care homes
• Community centres

Project types:

• Rooftop solar installations
• Battery storage systems
• EV chargers

It is estimated these initiatives will generate £35 million in lifetime savings on energy bills, while enhancing energy security and creating green jobs.

Regional Highlights

• Liverpool City Region plans to use its grant for solar in care homes and leisure centres, targeting £4.6 million in lifetime savings
• Greater Manchester will deploy solar at libraries, fire stations, police stations, and sports centres, with projected savings of £2.1 million
• York and North Yorkshire will install solar panels at an Edwardian swimming pool and leisure centres in Whitby, Ripon, and Thirsk, with estimated savings of £4 million

Dan McGrail, CEO of Great British Energy, commented:
“Today’s support for new clean power projects in every region in England shows our mission in action – providing a lasting positive impact for the country by creating new jobs, lower bills, and a cleaner future.
It’s important that communities feel the benefits of the energy transition and that we demonstrate the very real rewards it can bring.”

These community-scale efforts build upon the broader £180 million scheme announced in March, which aims to bring rooftop solar to around 200 schools and 200 hospitals, potentially saving £400 million over 30 years.

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