Hospitals suit solar well because they use electricity around the clock, so almost every kWh a rooftop or car park system produces is used on site. Solar also gives NHS trusts a direct, measurable step towards the NHS commitment to reach net zero by 2040 for the emissions it controls.
Why solar suits hospitals
- Constant demand. Wards, theatres, imaging, sterile services and ventilation run every day of the year, so a large acute hospital typically uses all of its solar on site, weekends included.
- Space. Large flat roofs, multi-storey and surface car parks, and land on the estate can all host panels.
- Cost certainty. Every kWh generated on site is one the trust does not buy at volatile grid prices.
Smaller sites such as GP surgeries and clinics are mainly open in working hours, so they typically use 55 to 80% of their solar.
The NHS net zero targets
The NHS has committed to:
- Net zero by 2040 for the emissions it controls directly (the NHS Carbon Footprint), with an ambition of an 80% reduction by 2028 to 2032.
- Net zero by 2045 for the emissions it can influence, such as its supply chain (the NHS Carbon Footprint Plus), with an ambition of an 80% reduction by 2036 to 2039.
Electricity bought from the grid is part of the Carbon Footprint, so on-site solar counts directly towards the 2040 target and trust Green Plans.
Funding solar on the NHS estate
NHS capital budgets are tightly controlled, so how a project is paid for often decides whether it happens.
- Great British Energy. Its £255 million Solar Partnerships Scheme is funding solar on more than 260 NHS sites and 250 schools. Its Local Power Plan commits up to £1 billion more to local and public sector energy projects.
- Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme. Awarded projects are still being delivered, but the government will not fund new rounds beyond 2027/28.
- Power Purchase Agreements. A funder pays for and maintains the system and the trust buys the electricity, which avoids using capital.
- Trust capital. Buying outright gives the best lifetime return where capital is available.
See our funding guide for how each route works.
Practical issues on hospital sites
- Working around patients. Installation needs careful planning around clinical areas, access routes and noise, often with work phased across buildings.
- Roofs. Hospital roofs carry plant, flues, helipads and access routes, so the usable share can be lower than on an industrial roof.
- Resilience. Solar alone does not keep a hospital running in a power cut. Grid-tied systems switch off when the grid fails unless they are designed with batteries and controls to work alongside backup generators.
- Procurement. Projects normally go through a compliant public procurement route or an approved framework.
Common questions
Can solar help an NHS trust meet net zero?
Yes. Grid electricity is part of the NHS Carbon Footprint, which the NHS has committed to reduce to net zero by 2040. Every kWh of solar used on site directly reduces it.
Is there funding for solar on NHS sites?
Great British Energy is the main new source, through its Solar Partnerships Scheme and Local Power Plan. PPAs avoid the need for capital altogether.
Will solar keep the hospital running in a power cut?
Not on its own. Standard grid-connected systems shut down when the grid fails. Backup needs batteries and controls designed to work with the site's generators.