GB Energy unveils £200m solar rollout for NHS and schools

Backed by £200m of funding, it’s claimed the programme will result in lifetime savings for schools and the NHS of up to £400m over around 30 years, savings that Labour claims will go directly back into frontline services.

The NHS is the single biggest energy user in the public sector, with an annual energy bill of around £1.4bn – a figure that has more than doubled since 2019. It’s estimated that the average NHS site could save £45,000 per year with solar and batteries, while a typical school could save up to £25,000. Only about 20 per cent of schools and less than 10 per cent of hospitals currently have solar panels installed. 

“Right now, money that should be spent on your children’s education or your family’s healthcare is instead being wasted on sky-high energy bills,” said energy secretary Ed Miliband. 

“Great British Energy’s first major project will be to help our vital public institutions save hundreds of millions on bills to reinvest on the frontline.”