Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (LTHT) has installed ‘a cutting-edge’ solar photovoltaic canopy over the car park of its Wharfedale Hospital site in Otley.
The Trust says the £1.1 million project will provide sustainable solar power to the hospital, reducing its reliance on conventional energy sources, and lowering its carbon footprint.
The 617 solar panels will reduce carbon emissions by 43.7 tonnes, and save the Trust £75,000, annually, while the electricity generated will reduce the use of grid electricity by 15%.
Craige Richardson, Director of Estates and Facilities, LTHT, said: “The solar canopy at the Wharfedale site exemplifies the Trust’s dedication to both environmental sustainability and the health and wellbeing of the communities we serve. It’s a real positive that the power required to run Wharfedale Hospital will be partly supplied by green energy, especially as the energy demands for the site will increase with the opening of a permanent Elective Care Hub.”
The investment is part of the Trust’s long-term plans to develop services at Wharfedale Hospital, which also includes a proposed £15 m Elective Care Hub, incorporating two new theatres, a recovery area, and an admissions and discharge area, alongside making an existing ward operational overnight.
The Trust claims to have been at the forefront of investing in energy-efficient projects, with a commitment of over £22 million. These projects – including the canopy – have been made possible through successful Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme bids. The range of initiatives implemented to date includes the installation of heat pumps and LED lighting, building fabric upgrades, and connections to Leeds PIPES, a low-carbon district heating network.
Reid Cunningham, Business Development director – Energy, at BAM, said: “BAM has provided facilities management services at Wharfedale Hospital since 2004, and we’re delighted to have delivered this innovative solar canopy installation that will reduce the hospital’s carbon emissions by 43.7 tonnes per year. Installing the solar canopies above the hospital car park is a fantastic way of harnessing the untapped potential of this space, so that it not only provides a place for staff and patients to park, but also provides clean, renewable energy for the building.”
Mila Lopez Simon, Managing Director, UK&I at Invesis, added: “We are proud to have supported the Trust in delivering the solar photovoltaic canopy. As investor-developers, we will continue to support the Trust by fostering positive, collaborative relationships, and through the efficient delivery of future variations and management services, which will play a role in helping the Trust achieve its long-term Net Zero objectives.”
