Massive £2.2 Million Solar Panel Plan Set to Transform 11 Cornish Hospitals

Could This Be the Beginning of the End for Soaring NHS Energy Bills?

Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is set to save millions of pounds and significantly reduce its carbon footprint, thanks to a new multi-million pound solar panel rollout across its hospital sites.

Thousands of Panels, Millions in Savings

A grant of almost £2.2 million will fund the installation of 2,725 solar panels across 11 NHS sites in Cornwall, with the Trust estimating £6.5 million in lifetime cost savings. One location will also benefit from a battery storage system to make even more efficient use of the renewable energy.

The electricity generated from the new systems is expected to match the usage of 518 homes and cut the amount of electricity the Trust buys from the grid by around 30%. These savings could help fund further carbon reduction work or even improve patient care, according to Alan Bean, Sustainability Programme Manager for the Trust.

“We are grateful to our staff who are working hard to deliver these projects,” said Alan.

“They will lead to a significant reduction in our carbon footprint and operating costs.

“The cost savings could be used to improve patient care or fund other carbon reduction projects.

“This is a key moment in our efforts to achieve ‘healthier outcomes for people, the planet and pounds’. That is the vision for our Net Zero programme.”

Where the Panels Will Be Installed

The following NHS sites in Cornwall will benefit from the new solar installations:

• Bodmin Community Hospital

• Liskeard Community Hospital

• Longreach House, Redruth

• Camborne Health Office

• Bellair Health Office, Penzance

• Camborne Redruth Community Hospital

• Falmouth Community Hospital

• Helston Community Hospital

• Launceston Community Hospital

• St Barnabas Community Hospital, Saltash

• Stratton Community Hospital

Powering the Future, Reducing Emissions

The solar panels aren’t just about cutting costs—they’ll also cut emissions in a big way. The annual reduction in carbon dioxide emissions is estimated to be equivalent to the volume of 333 hot air balloons, or Big Ben 25 times over.

This programme forms part of a wider clean energy drive, with 78 NHS Trusts and 200 NHS sites across England receiving similar funding. Nationwide, the programme is expected to deliver:

• £8.6 million in annual savings

• 55 million kWh of additional solar-generated electricity

• 200–260% return on investment in under 15 years

• A 300% increase in solar energy generation within the NHS

More Funding for Energy Efficiency

This announcement follows a separate award of over half a million pounds from the NHS Energy Efficiency Fund (NEEF). Those funds will cover:

• LED lighting upgrades

• Further solar panel installations

• Improvements to building management systems—controlling heating, ventilation, and air conditioning

• Upgrades at Sowenna, the Trust’s child and adolescent mental health unit in Bodmin

Backed by Great British Energy

The funding is part of the first wave of investment from Great British Energy, the government’s newly established state-owned clean energy company. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero announced the £100 million package in March 2025.