NET ZERO
The car park is becoming part of the energy estate Hospital car parks have traditionally been considered primarily in terms of capacity, access, security, and traffic management. Electrification adds another dimension. As NHS fleets, staff vehicles, and increasing numbers of visitor vehicles become electric, parking areas will become points of electricity consumption. At the same time, they can potentially become locations for electricity generation; this changes their strategic role. It does not mean every healthcare car park is suitable for solar carports. Hospitals create significant delivery challenges. Blue-light routes, pedestrian access, disabled parking, staff movements, and uninterrupted clinical services cannot simply be suspended while infrastructure is constructed. But where appropriate, solar PV, EV charging, electrical distribution, load management, and future battery storage can be considered together rather than added independently over many years. Installing EV chargers is relatively straightforward compared with determining how an estate will ultimately supply them. A small number of chargers may have limited impact. Dozens or potentially hundreds of charging points create a different infrastructure question. Understanding vehicle dwell times, charging patterns, peak demand, and available electrical capacity therefore becomes as important as selecting the charging hardware itself.
Where battery storage fits Battery energy storage can add another level of flexibility, particularly as healthcare estates become increasingly electrified. However, BESS should not automatically be treated as an accessory to every solar installation, Its value depends on the estate. Four questions are particularly relevant:
n Can storage increase the proportion of locally generated solar electricity consumed on site?
n Can it help manage periods of peak electrical demand?
n Can electricity consumption and grid imports be managed more effectively against tariff structures?
The next phase of NHS decarbonisation presents a complicated challenge: the hospital of the future is likely to need more electricity, not less.
n Could storage and intelligent control help an estate make better use of its existing electrical infrastructure as new loads are introduced?
The answers require analysis. Half-hourly consumption, solar generation, tariff structure, battery size, electrical capacity, control strategy, and anticipated future demand all influence the business case. In some hospitals, BESS may offer significant value. In others, investment may be better directed elsewhere. The principle remains the same: analysis should precede technology selection.
Capital availability is part of energy strategy Technical viability alone does not determine whether a healthcare energy project proceeds. Capital investment in renewable infrastructure must compete with other priorities across the NHS estate. This makes funding and project phasing an increasingly important part of the energy conversation. Different projects may lend themselves to different
approaches, including direct capital investment, available grant funding, third-party funded arrangements such as Power Purchase Agreements, phased investment programmes, or combinations of funding mechanisms
Jim Howlett
Jim brings extensive experience in business development and renewable energy to his role at RenEnergy, with knowledge of public sector and NHS estates. He works closely with stakeholders from early feasibility through to delivery, helping organisations develop practical solar PV and energy storage solutions that support their financial and Net Zero ambitions.
October 2026 Health Estate Journal 99
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