More NHS trusts across England will benefit from additional Great British Energy funding for solar panels.

As part of an expanded scheme to fund solar panels for NHS sites, military sites and schools, 34 NHS trusts across England, including 10 already in programme, will receive funding from Great British Energy and the Government.

These NHS trusts will install the panels at around 70 more sites, from hospitals to mental health facilities.

In total, the scheme will see around 260 NHS sites benefitting.

Estimated energy bill savings over the panels’ lifetime could reach up to £65m for the trusts from this additional spend.

The scheme covers more than a third of NHS trusts in England, helping them to power health services with clean, homegrown energy, while giving them the potential to sell leftover energy back to the grid.

It comes as NHS services have been hit with rocketing energy bills in recent years, costing taxpayers millions of pounds, and eating into healthcare budgets.

Across the country, solar panels are going up on rooftops or carpark canopies to power operating theatres with clean, homegrown power

The NHS is the single-biggest public sector energy user, with an estimated annual energy bill of around £1.34bn, a figure which has almost doubled since 2019.

Thanks to this partnership between the NHS and Great British Energy, millions could now be invested back into frontline services as the rollout continues on a scheme that is estimated to see total lifetime energy bill savings for the NHS of up to £325m, with the average NHS site estimated to save around £35,000 a year in energy bills.

Energy Minister, Michael Shanks, said: “Great British Energy is helping local hospitals save money on their bills, to be reinvested into the frontline, from nurses to medical equipment.

“Across the country, solar panels are going up on rooftops or carpark canopies to power operating theatres with clean, homegrown power.

“This is our clean energy superpower mission in action, protecting our public services with lower bills and energy security.”

Great British Energy’s chief executive, Dan McGrail, added: “Great British Energy has been set up as a publicly-owned energy company to help deliver the Government’s mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower.

“Our ongoing solar rollout delivers tangible benefits to the people that need it most in our hospitals and schools.

“Our continuing work is ensuring money is being put back into frontline care and education, providing cheap, clean, and secure power.”

And Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting, said: “There is not just a moral case for this investment, but a pragmatic one too.

“Every pound the NHS spends on rising energy bills is money that can’t be spent on cutting waiting times.

This is our clean energy superpower mission in action, protecting our public services with lower bills and energy security

“By modernising the NHS and cutting wasteful spending, including taking back control of our energy, we will get patients treated faster.”

Earlier this month, the Government confirmed total funding for the solar scheme had increased to up to £255m, allowing Great British Energy to support around 260 NHS sites, around 250 schools, and 15 military sites.

As part of the expanded scheme, 34 NHS trusts will receive a share of up to £30m.

The rollout marks progress in Great British Energy and government’s Local Power Plan that will ensure the benefits of the Government’s clean power mission are felt at a local level, with energy security, good jobs and economic growth – while also helping to rebuild the nation’s public services.

Michele Moran, chief executive of Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust, which recently received solar funding, said: “We’re really proud to have secured funding through the NHS and Great British Energy Solar Partnership.

“This investment will help us expand solar generation across key sites, reduce our reliance on grid energy, and lower our carbon footprint.

“It’s a great example of how we’re investing in a more sustainable future for our services and communities.

By modernising the NHS and cutting wasteful spending, including taking back control of our energy, we will get patients treated faster

Dawn Hanwell, chief financial officer and deputy chief executive at Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, added: “We are delighted that Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust will be part of the Great British Energy solar panel programme.

“The solar installation will reduce our use of grid electricity and is estimated to provide 15% of our annual energy consumption.

“This will help us reduce our carbon footprint and contribute towards decarbonising our estate in line with our Green Plan.

“The reduction in energy costs will deliver long-term savings that can be reinvested in our other sustainability priorities and service user care.”