Dorset HealthCare awarded Government funding for solar panels
The aim is to reduce energy costs and carbon emissions at six sites
Dorset HealthCare has been awarded £928,000 in funding to install solar panels at six of its sites, as part of a wider £100 million government initiative to support the NHS in reducing energy costs and carbon emissions.
The funding, provided by Great British Energy, will enable the Trust to save around £200,000 a year on energy bills.
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero is offering this funding to help the NHS install solar power and battery storage solutions. The initiative aims to reduce energy costs and offer better value for taxpayers.
Across the NHS, the new solar panel projects are expected to generate savings of up to £8.6 million annually, with a total of £260 million over the lifetime of the panels.
Patrick McDermott, Dorset HealthCare’s Head of Sustainability and Fleet, said:
“We have made great progress over the last year in reducing our carbon footprint. We are committed to playing our part in improving the environment and are aiming to cut carbon emissions by 80 per cent by 2030. Our target is to become a carbon net zero health service by 2040. It’s great we are making this change to clean and renewable electricity generated by solar panels.”
As part of its ongoing sustainability efforts, Dorset HealthCare has already switched to renewable energy sources, including solar, wind, and hydro power. These efforts have helped offset around 3,000 tonnes of CO2.
The installation of the solar panels is set to begin in late Summer 2025, further supporting the Trust’s goal to reduce its carbon footprint and contribute to the NHS’s wider efforts to meet net-zero targets.
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