Spire Cheshire Hospital installs 370 solar panels to help achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2030
13 February 2025
- 12,155 solar panels have been installed during 2024 at all 38 Spire hospitals across England, Wales and Scotland
- Largest investment in solar technology by a UK independent hospital group
- Group carbon savings equivalent to planting 44,000 trees every year
Spire Cheshire Hospital has just completed the installation of 370 solar panels, as part of a major carbon reduction programme at the hospital. The panels are expected to generate 9.2% of the hospital’s annual electrical needs and reduce the overall carbon output of the hospital by 61,658 kg/pa.
The installation is part of a programme across Spire Healthcare, to put in place over 12,000 solar panels at all of its 38 hospitals across England, Wales and Scotland this year, backed by an investment of £5.2m.
Spire Cheshire Hospital's solar panels (pictured)
Nationwide, the programme will reduce the hospital estate’s combined annual carbon footprint by approximately 968 tonnes, the equivalent of:
- Planting 44,000 trees
- Taking 390 medium-sized cars off the road
- Flying from London to Sydney almost 200 times
Spire Healthcare has committed to become carbon neutral by 2030, the first independent sector healthcare provider in the UK to do so.
Other environmental initiatives at the hospital include carrying out a BMS optimisation project to better control the energy management and usage within the building. This allows us to shut non-essential systems down when the areas are not in use, or overnight to reduce energy consumption. The hospital has a dedicated carbon champion, who promotes sustainability throughout the hospital and encourages colleagues to think about what they can do to reduce carbon usage.
Ben White, Hospital Director at Spire Cheshire Hospital, said: “Environmental sustainability is a core component of our strategy, and I’m delighted that we’ve been able to install solar panels here at Spire Cheshire Hospital. I’m proud of all my colleagues’ enthusiasm and determination to meet our goal of becoming carbon neutral by the end of 2030.”
Spire Cheshire Hospital's solar panels (pictured)