Communities in the UK are set to benefit from increased funding for healthcare and the armed forces through clean energy upgrades designed to reduce energy costs. A total of 82 NHS Trusts, eight military sites, and one prison will share £74 million to adopt clean energy technologies and improve energy efficiency, generating savings that can be reinvested into local frontline services.
These upgrades are expected to save more than 190 NHS sites nearly £30 million annually on energy bills, while military sites across England and Scotland are projected to achieve hundreds of thousands of pounds in yearly savings. Lincoln County Hospital will receive over £1.2 million to install solar panels, and the Harbour, a mental health hospital in Blackpool, will receive £590,000 for new battery technology. RAF stations including RAF Lossiemouth, RAF Waddington, and RAF Marham will also benefit from energy management upgrades, reducing operational costs.
HMP Channings Wood in Devon will receive £495,000 for solar panels and almost £250,000 for electrical and plumbing improvements to reduce heat loss. Of the total funding, £9 million will be delivered in partnership with Great British Energy, building on the company’s previous £255 million investment in solar power for hospitals, schools, and military sites.
Government officials highlighted the broader benefits of the initiative. Minister for Energy Consumers Martin McCluskey noted that savings from lower energy bills will be redirected to frontline services, while Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting emphasized that a cleaner, more efficient NHS ensures better value for money and improved patient care. Dan McGrail, CEO of Great British Energy, added that these projects empower communities to benefit directly from secure, clean energy while enabling millions of pounds to be reinvested in essential public services.
