CHFT were recently awarded a grant by Great British Energy to install rooftop solar panels at CRH and HRI. This solar panel project marks an important milestone in the Trust’s Net Zero journey - reducing costs and emissions and improving our resilience by enabling us to generate clean, green energy on site. This achievement is the result of a collaborative effort involving colleagues from our Sustainability Team, Estates Electrical Teams and delivery partners.

The Sustainability Team played a key role in identifying the opportunity and developing the business case, bidding for the funding and ensuring the project aligned with the Trust's environmental objectives and long-term carbon reduction strategy. Estates and electrical colleagues provided vital technical expertise throughout the design, planning, and installation phases, helping to integrate the new system safely and effectively into the hospital's existing infrastructure.

The installation uses SolarEdge technology, which provides enhanced performance, real-time monitoring, and safety benefits.

Since the system went live in the middle of May, the panels have generated over 23 MWh of electricity, enough to power 102 homes and have saved 3 tonnes of CO2e- the main contributor to climate change (equivalent to the carbon removed from the atmosphere by 280 trees.) The panels are expected to save the Trust £44,000 per year on our energy bills and were fully funded by Great British Energy - meaning there was no upfront cost to the Trust.

Environment Manager, Grace Barrett, said: “It is fantastic that we have this grant to help us meet our ambitions which we set out in the CHFT Green Plan. This funding will help us reduce our environmental impact and save money on our energy bills."

As the NHS continues its commitment to becoming the world's first Net Zero national health service, projects like this demonstrate how local action can contribute to national ambitions while delivering tangible benefits for patients, staff, and the wider community. The successful delivery of this solar PV installation is just one of several sustainability projects planned across the Trust's estate as part of the Green Plan. Work is already underway to develop further initiatives that will improve energy efficiency, reduce carbon emissions, and support the NHS Net Zero ambition.

Our Green Plan can be found in our Policies and Documents Library and covers nine key areas of focus for us to prioritise over the next three years. The themes range from Workforce and Leadership, to Digital Transformation, Travel and Transport, and Medicines.