EFFICIENCY IN MEDICAL & EDUCATIONAL BUILDINGS


Are schools and hospitals missing out on a solar power gold-mine?


With recent funding boosts and ambitious policy direction announcements, hospitals and schools are looking to implement clean energy more than ever before. But are their car parks the hidden key to successful rollout? Damian Baker, MD and founder of RenEnergy, discusses how schools and hospitals should consider taking this opportunity to generate more renewable energy than ever before


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n March 2025, it was announced that schools and hospitals across the UK will be the recipients of a £180 million investment into solar energy. This follows the government outlining its Clean Power 2030 strategy for the


UK to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels, build energy security and generate more renewable energy.


Specialised equipment and uninterrupted critical energy supply makes the challenge of clean energy more challenging for hospitals. The annual energy cost of the NHS is £1.5 billion and with an investment into solar energy, there could be savings of around £45,000 per year. Hospitals are needing to balance green power development with improving energy security to ensure critical energy supply is maintained for vital patient care.


On the other hand, schools spend


approximately £543 million on their electricity bills each year. This is compounded with rising costs and pressure of the skills crisis in teaching along with other costs for schools rising as public and private sector budgets are restricted.


Parking the problem


RenEnergy has commissioned ongoing research into the viability of solar carports that use existing land for car parking and generate electricity through overhead solar panels. Using satellite imaging, researchers are evaluating suitable parking spaces across the UK and have been able to calculate a growing opportunity for the UK.


Something that the government itself


has recently called for under Clean Power 2030, the research has already explored commercial carparks in schools, universities, colleges, hospitals, medical facilities, hotels, golf courses and sports facilities. It has already uncovered over 629,000 suitable spaces, which could produce an estimated 1,456 GWh energy per year. So far, we have found 79,960 suitable parking spaces in hospital and medical facility car parks, which could generate 73.9 GWh of energy per year with the installation. To put this into perspective, that’s reportedly enough energy to power the six hospitals that make up the University College London Hospitals Trust for over three years. Similarly, there are already 71,811 suitable parking spaces across school, college and university car parks, with the potential to generate enough energy to provide around


55% of Oxford University’s total reported annual electricity usage. Our research is only a starting point. In the


future, we will be uncovering how further commercial carparks could follow suit and consider installing this infrastructure such as supermarkets and train stations.


Why make this investment into the future?


For any organisation with a suitable car park for an installation, there are a number of reasons why solar carports can offer a practical solution.


Making use of land already used for car parking, the solution can reduce reliance on the grid, lower overall operating costs and improve energy security on-site at the same time. Gaining planning permissions can also be simpler, and working with an energy specialist such as RenEnergy, approval from the District Network Operator (DNO) and planning authority could be completed in eight weeks. For critical energy installations in hospitals, and time sensitive work in schools to fit into holidays, this speed of integration can make solar more realistic. Both sectors could also take this a step further and consider selling the energy generated from the carports back to the grid to pay off the initial investment. Using battery energy storage solutions (BESS) in conjunction with carports and other solar arrays, hospitals and schools can build a more resilient and cost-effective system that balances grid power and solar generation. The system design can incorporate existing structures and site functionality such as drainage to make integration smooth, in addition to value-adding features such as lighting, rainwater harvesting and branding. Carports themselves can also bring a number of benefits to visitors. Beyond shading from the elements, EV charging infrastructure can be integrated to provide more charging capability to spaces as the technology continues to grow. The carports are also designed to take traffic flow, visibility and usage, such as allowing for car doors to fully open, into account. For local authorities, contractors and other people looking to implement this type of technology into education and medical facilities, solar carports could represent an effective and quick way of introducing solar to site. By working closely with a specialist like RenEnergy, they can leverage the funding available to introduce the most effective system to reduce cost, improve resilience and support sustainability targets.


Read the latest at: www.bsee.co.uk BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER JUNE 2025 21


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