• New solar panel funding will help save thousands of pounds every year
• 310 panels will be installed at Royal Bolton Hospital, reducing 27 tonnes of CO₂ annually
• Money saved will be redirected towards frontline care services

New solar panel funding has been awarded to Bolton NHS Foundation Trust to help save tens of thousands of pounds a year and support investment into frontline care.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has announced a package of £100 million from Great British Energy for the NHS to install solar power and battery storage solutions to help drive down energy bills, offering better value for the taxpayer.

As part of this groundbreaking new funding Bolton NHS Foundation Trust has been awarded more than £300,000 to install 310 solar panels on the Royal Bolton Hospital site.

The new solar panel installation project will deliver an annual saving of around £22,000 and 27 tonnes of CO₂.

Annette Walker, Chief Finance Officer at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, said:

As a large acute hospital and one of the biggest employers in Bolton, we want to do everything we can to reduce our impact on the local environment.

“This funding allows us to continue to introduce sustainable infrastructure that reduces our carbon footprint and delivers on the plan of action set out in our Green Plan.

“Through these savings we’ll be able redirect money towards our services and ensure our staff can deliver the best possible care to our communities.

Nationally, the projects are expected to deliver savings of around £8.6 million a year, and up to £260 million over the panel’s lifetime across the NHS.

Chief Sustainability Officer at NHS England, Chris Gormley said:

Thanks to the dedication of teams nationwide, the NHS has already implemented hundreds of projects that enhance energy efficiency and drive significant cost savings.

“This groundbreaking new investment, across 78 NHS Trusts on around 200 sites, will expand solar power generation within the NHS by over 300%, slashing energy costs by hundreds of millions of pounds. These vital savings can be reinvested directly into frontline care, ensuring the NHS continues to deliver for our patients and communities.

Find out more about the Green Plan on Bolton NHS Foundation Trust’s website.