RENEWABLE ENERGY


Solar solutions for healthcare estates


As energy costs continue to surge and sustainability pressures mount, healthcare estates are looking at on-site solar power to stabilise budgets and support Net Zero goals. Damian Baker, founder and Managing director at RenEnergy, explores how solar PV can help healthcare providers cut emissions, reduce operating costs, and navigate complex regulatory landscapes.


How can health estate managers deliver critical services while lowering operational emissions and costs? NHS England spends approximately £1.4 bn on energy, a figure which has doubled since 20191


– demonstrating the


urgency of the challenge estate managers face. There are rays of light, however. The introduction of new and refreshed sustainability-minded energy procurement strategies, have resulted in the broader adoption of solar photovoltaic (solar PV) technology, providing a buffer against unpredictable power pricing while helping estates adhere to environmental legislation. Its true potential, however, remains underdeveloped within the healthcare industry.


Time to act Beyond the lighting and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) demand, many facilities such as accident and emergency (A&E) departments and intensive care units, play host to 24/7 operations and need power for specialised, lifesaving equipment. Compounding this is the fact that the UK has faced some of the highest electricity prices in Europe. Demand is constant and systems that produce affordable on-site clean energy are increasingly attractive to healthcare estate managers. The legislative landscape poses further food for thought.


From 2027, non-domestic buildings that do not meet band C on their Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) can no longer be let, with this expected to rise to band B by 2030.2


Plans have also been proposed to reduce


the validity period of existing EPCs, incentivising estate managers to look at clean energy generation technologies including solar PV.


Such reforms ensure stakeholders are equipped with


accurate information and encourage them to consider measures to improve the energy efficiency of their properties. The proposed reforms create a strong case


At Healthcare Estates 2025, HEJ’s Editor spoke with Jim Howlett, Business Development Manager at RenEnergy UK, about sustainability in healthcare, and the benefits, and growing interest, of solar power. Click here to watch the video: https://healthestatejournal. com/video.


for the adoption of on-site renewable technologies such as solar PV as a measure for improving the EPC rating of buildings and ensuring compliance with energy efficiency legislation.


Defying leasehold challenges Despite this appeal, barriers remain. Foremost among these is the complexity of leasehold agreements. NHS, private healthcare and charity-funded estates often include leased buildings where installing solar panels might require the landlord’s permission, followed by negotiations around asset ownership and maintenance responsibilities. A license to alter, grants tenants permission to make


alterations to the property within which they operate, this could include the installation of solar panels on the roof of the building. When determining the details of the license, both parties need to clearly define who is responsible for the ownership and maintenance of the solar panels.


January 2026 Health Estate Journal 65


Top: Roof-mounted solar is the standard for many estates, the next step for these estates is to invest in solar carports, says RenEnergy.


Above: Demand is constant and systems that produce affordable on-site clean energy are increasingly attractive to healthcare estate managers.


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