Great British Energy could save schools and the NHS £3.8m

• Five NHS sites and three schools now generate their own solar power
• The NHS is the single biggest public sector energy user
• One West Yorkshire school hopes its bills will fall by £10,200

Solar panels handed out to NHS sites and schools by Great British Energy earlier in could cut bills by £3.8m, allowing more investment in frontline services, according to the government.

Currently, five NHS sites and three primary schools have their solar panels installed, with eight more schools expected to go live this autumn, at a cost of about £180m. The sites and schools are the first big project for Great British Energy, the new national energy provider launched by the government after its election victory in 2024.

One school in West Yorkshire said it hoped to see its yearly bills fall by around £10,200, while NHS services in Ipswich hope to experience savings of up to £527,500. South Central Ambulance Service has said it could save more than £32,000 a year, thanks to 609 solar panels installed. 

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Ed Miliband, energy secretary, said that in England, around £80m is supporting around 200 schools, as well as £100m for nearly 200 NHS sites, to install rooftop solar panels and generate renewable energy that they can use or potentially sell back to the grid. 

He said that schools and hospitals have struggled with rocketing energy bills in recent years, which has cost taxpayers millions of pounds and eaten into school and healthcare budgets, which has been driven by the UK’s dependence on unpredictable fossil fuel markets. 

The NHS is the single biggest public sector energy user, with an estimated annual bill of £1.4bn and has doubled since 2019. 

Miliband said that because of Great British Energy, “millions could now be invested back into frontline services in deprived areas,” and that overall savings across all schools and NHS sites could hit £400m. 

Currently, only around 20% of schools and 10% of hospitals have solar panels installed and estimates suggest that, on average, NHS sites could save up to £45,000 a year and a typical school could save up to £25,000 per year, if solar panels were installed. 

Great British Energy £10m investment in other sectors

Earlier this month, Miliband set out his expectation for Great British Energy and how it will deliver on the government’s Plan for Change and take back control of Britain’s energy supply. 

He said the government plans to produce a “strategic plan” within six months, setting out these targets, how it will meet them and deliver for the public. 

This will include Great British Energy’s £10m investment in grant funding for England’s Mayoral Authorities to deliver local clean energy projects. 

The scheme will see public services across the country, including libraries, fire stations and care homes save an estimated £35m in lifetime energy bill savings to reinvest back into serving their local communities. 

Dan McGrail, CEO, Great British Energy, said the solar rollout will deliver “tangible benefits to the people who need it most” and that the priority is to make sure money goes “back into frontline care and education”. 

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Written By

Tamara Birch Newsletter and sponsored content editor

Tamara is a London-based journalist and has written about environmental topics for more than four years. This includes advising small business owners on cost-effective ways, like solar panels and energy-efficient products, to help them become more sustainable.

She has used her journalist and research skills to become highly knowledgeable on sustainable initiatives, issues, and solutions to help consumers do their bit for the environment – all while reducing monthly costs.

In addition to adopting sustainable practices in her personal life, Tamara has worked in the retail B2B space to help independent retailers think about their environmental choices and how they can help improve their business. She now uses this knowledge to help consumers do the same.

Her passion for sustainability and eco-friendly solutions stems from a long obsession with nature and animals and ensuring they feel looked after. In her free time, Tamara enjoys reading fantasy novels, visiting the gym, and going on long walks in new areas.

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Max joined The Eco Experts as content manager in February 2024. He has written about sustainability issues across numerous industries, including maritime, supply chain, finance, mining, and retail. He has also written extensively for consumer titles like City AM, The Morning Star, and The Daily Express.

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