UK invests in NHS, air force and a prison to bolster its energy security

The UK is investing £74 million ($100.8 million) across 82 National Health Service (NHS) Trusts, eight military sites and one prison to adopt clean energy technologies and improve their energy efficiency.

According to a government-issued release, the measures will save over 190 NHS sites almost £30 million ($40.9 million) a year on their energy bills, while military sites across England and Scotland are expected to make annual energy savings worth hundreds of thousands of pounds.

The Trusts, organisational units within the NHS responsible for managing hospitals, community heath services and ambulance services, will receive the funding to support them with different aspects of their decarbonisation efforts. 

For example, Lincoln County Hospital will receive over £1.2 million ($1.6 million) to instal solar panels, while the Harbour, a mental health hospital in Blackpool, will benefit from £590,000 ($804,000) to instal new battery technology.

Meanwhile, a number of Royal Air Force (RAF) stations, including RAF Lossiemouth, RAF Waddington and RAF Marham will benefit from upgrades to manage energy usage, making them cheaper to run.  

HMP Channings Wood, a men’s prison in Devon, will also receive £495,000 (approximately $674,586) for solar panels and almost £250,000 ($347,000) for electrical and plumbing works to help reduce heat loss.  

Additionally, £9 million ($12.3 million) will be delivered in partnership with Great British Energy (GBE) for batteries and solar panels.

Commenting in a release was UK Minister for Energy Consumers, Martin McCluskey: “More money will go straight to frontline services as hospitals, prisons and military sites benefit from cheaper bills and cutting-edge green technology.  

“This is our clean power mission in action – cutting bills, investing in public services and providing energy security for our country.”

The funding is the latest from the UK, which has been treating public sector estates as part of a wider energy security strategy, turning hospitals, military sites and prisons into focal points for clean energy investment. 

The £9 million delivered alongside GBE, for example, build on the publicly owned energy company’s £255 million ($347.5 million) investment in solar power for hospitals, schools and military sites last year.  

This included a new partnership between GBE and the UK’s Ministry of Defence, which will see technologies such as solar panels and micro-wind turbines deployed across a range of military sites, including remote training ground and equipment stations, allowing energy bill savings to be redirected towards vital defence spending.

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NHS net-zero progress

According to the tech company, whose research is built on Freedom of Information (FOI) data, there are marked improvements in technology adoption, digitalisation, renewable technologies, and energy efficiency drives. However, there are ongoing challenges developing robust sustainability strategies in the NHS and a continued heavy reliance on fossil fuels. 

Specifically, finds the research, one in five Trusts (21%) don’t have a clear roadmap to meet the NHS net-zero targets although this is an improvement from 31% in 2024. The same percentage of trusts are not measuring their carbon footprint, also an improvement from 29% in 2024. Additionally, one in four (26%) remain heavily dependent on fossil fuels, with 90% of their energy coming from these sources.

According to Schneider Electric’s research, technology and digitalisation are at the core of NHS sustainability initiatives, with 64% having adopted technology to monitor and optimise energy use, up from 48% in 2024. The same percentage of Trusts have upgraded building systems and 33% have digitised electrical infrastructure and energy sources to drive efficiencies.

The research also found a significant boost in funds with nine in ten (89%) Trusts receiving funding for decarbonisation projects, compared to 67% in 2024. 

In terms of priorities, renewables and energy efficiency initiatives take the lead, with 64% investing in solar panels and other renewable sources, compared to 16% last year. Additionally, 53% upgraded HVAC systems and 68% used funding to instal energy efficient technologies and equipment such as LED lighting, an increase of 28% from 2024.

Said Alice Williams, Schneider Electric’s VP Digital Energy, UK&I: "We’ve just passed the five-year mark since the NHS committed to reaching net-zero for direct emissions by 2040, the world’s first healthcare system to do so. We should be proud of this and the way in which Trusts are embracing sustainability and making progress towards these targets. 

“But, with energy usage and rising costs major challenges for the NHS, there is still much work to be done. Renewable sources, modern technology, and digital solutions offer a real opportunity to upgrade existing options, paving the way for a more sustainable and robust NHS for the future.”