Solar PV That Supports Patient Care
The challenge:
With the NHS under growing pressure from rising energy bills, backlog maintenance, and capital funding constraints, trusts across the UK are being forced to do more with less. The need to decarbonise remains urgent, but investment decisions are under scrutiny. Every pound spent has to reduce emissions and deliver savings that can be reinvested in core services and patient care.
That’s exactly why this NHS hospital in Surrey approached Carbon3.
As part of their broader sustainability and energy strategy, the client was looking for a low-disruption, high-impact solution that could reduce energy costs and emissions without adding risk or burden to the clinical environment.
The solution:
Carbon3 was appointed to design and deliver a bespoke solar PV system for the hospital, taking into account the unique challenges of a clinical estate.
The hospital had recently undergone a roof replacement, so protecting that new asset was essential. We designed the system using 450W high-efficiency panels, chosen to avoid compromising the roof warranty. As with all our projects, we managed the DNO application to ensure grid compliance from the outset.
Once approved, we completed the installation in under two weeks, working exclusively with directly-employed, DBS-checked engineers to guarantee a quality install and reduce any risks to patients and staff.
Minimising disruption to patient care:
Hospitals are complex environments, where noise, access, and timing all have to be handled delicately.
Carbon3 worked closely with hospital estates and operational teams to plan the works around clinical schedules. We ensured no disruption to critical services, kept access routes open, and adhered to strict on-site safety procedures for staff, patients, and engineers alike.
It’s this level of coordination and care that allowed this energy project to move forward without affecting day-to-day healthcare delivery.
Beyond the install:
Following installation, the client entered into an ongoing maintenance and monitoring contract with Carbon3.
This includes:
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Live system monitoring, so performance issues are identified before they affect ROI
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Planned and reactive maintenance, carried out by our in-house O&M team
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Full transparency for energy and carbon reporting—supporting compliance with NHS net zero targets
With NHS budgets under intense pressure, these performance safeguards are very important. Ensuring solar systems deliver what they were designed to means the hospital gets the full benefit of its investment year after year.
Why this matters now:
The NHS currently spends over £1 billion a year on energy. At a time when patient wait times are growing, staffing budgets are stretched, and capital investment is harder to secure, energy savings are necessary.
Every kilowatt saved can be redirected to patient care, equipment, hiring more staff, or service improvements.
Hospitals like our client are leading the way in showing how trusts can deliver on net zero goals without compromising care. With the right partner, decarbonisation can be efficient, low-disruption, and genuinely value-adding.
NHS Decarbonisation of Estates Framework:
Carbon3 is proud to be an approved supplier on the NHS Decarbonisation of Estates Framework, a nationally recognised framework for delivering low-carbon energy solutions across NHS estates. We were awarded a place on the framework following a highly competitive process, selected for our technical expertise, commitment to safety, and proven delivery in live clinical environments.
This means other NHS trusts can easily procure our services through the framework, with full compliance and pre-approved terms in place. Whether you’re planning solar PV, battery storage, EV infrastructure, or long-term energy strategies, Carbon3 is ready to support.
Looking to cut costs and carbon across your NHS estate?
Let’s have a conversation about how we can support your facilities team. Email us at info@carbon3.co.uk.
