Overview

• Five NHS sites have installed rooftop solar under the £180 million scheme, alongside new school installations over the summer, with all funded locations targeted to be operational by April.
• The initial group of five NHS sites and 11 primary schools is expected to save about £3.8 million over the 30-year lifetimes of the panels, according to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
• NHS England says the rollout will expand solar generation across the health service by more than 300% and is forecast to cut energy costs by £8.6 million a year once complete, totalling about £260 million over system lifetimes.
• Eleven schools switched on their panels in June and are already reducing bills, with a further eight schools scheduled for installation in the autumn.
• The funding allocates £80 million for 200 schools and £100 million for nearly 200 NHS sites, addressing low current uptake and offering typical annual savings of up to £25,000 per school and up to £45,000 per NHS site.