SOLAR PV


Above: Sheffield University Gene Therapy Manufacturing Centre.


Above right: Another view of the Kent and Canterbury Hospital.


assessment can still deliver a commercially and environmentally impactful outcome.


Making the financial case The strongest arguments for solar PV are not complicated. A well-sized solar PV system typically pays for itself in four to seven years if self-funded.5


It then continues generating


for 25–30 years. A modest installation on a typical NHS site might generate 175,000–200,000 kWh annually, which at current electricity prices, is tens of thousands of pounds back into the budget each year. Over the lifetime of the system, the savings can exceed £1m from a single installation. This is money that can be reinvested into patient care, especially as non-domestic electricity prices remain elevated.6 The catch is that the headline installation cost is never the full cost. There is always a second layer. Grid connection charges, scaffolding, electrical upgrades, sometimes roof works. Teams need to assume complexity upfront rather than discovering it halfway through. A contingency of 10–15 per cent should be built into any budget estimate to cover items including: n DNO connection charges, which vary significantly by location and network condition.


n Grid reinforcement, if the local network requires upgrading.


n Scaffolding and access, particularly on complex or multi-storey buildings.


n Roof strengthening or repair identified during structural survey.


n Safety rails and fall-arrest systems, required on most rooftop installations.


East Surrey Hospital.


n Electrical modifications to switch rooms and distribution boards.


Funding


Solar PV can be funded through capital budgets, grant programmes, or fully funded commercial models. Whichever route is used, the same preparation is required from the estates team.


Upfront full payment: Paying upfront usually delivers the strongest return, but many Trusts do not have capital available. Where budget exists, early quotes help confirm scope, programme, and likely payback.


Government and NHS grant programmes: The Great British Energy programme is currently the most active government funding stream for NHS solar PV projects, with applications assessed on delivery confidence, carbon impact, and economic benefit.7


NHS England


and NHS SBS also administer targeted decarbonisation capital programmes. Estates teams should maintain a live dialogue with their regional NHS SBS contact to stay ahead of funding rounds. The National Energy Efficiency Fund (NEEF) is a further route worth monitoring.


Fully funded solar: Where grant funding is unavailable or delayed, fully funded models can remove the capital barrier. In these arrangements, the provider funds, installs, owns, and operates the system, and the Trust pays an agreed rate for the electricity generated. Maintenance of the system is usually covered by the provider, saving Trusts money from day one with no capital outlay across the length of the contract. These structures can also provide longer-term price


certainty, with system ownership transferring to the Trust after an agreed term. Other routes, such as hire purchase, can also spread costs over time.


If the roof is not suitable, the project does not need to end there. Car parks and spare land frequently offer better generation opportunities than the buildings themselves.


114 Health Estate Journal October 2026


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