Spire Wellesley Hospital installs 219 solar panels to help achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2030

• 12,155 solar panels to be 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 Wellesley Hospital has just completed the installation of 219 solar panels, as part of a major carbon reduction programme at the hospital. The panels are expected to generate 7.8% of the hospital’s annual electrical needs and reduce the overall carbon output of the hospital by 18.3 tonnes per annum.

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.

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 increasing recycling of waste from 15% to 30%. The hospital has replaced all fluorescent light fittings with LED lights and has installed motion sensors to ensure the lights are not on continuously. In addition to this, Spire Wellesley Hospital has upgraded the Building Management System to ensure the plant is not running 24/7 and has installed electric car chargers in its car park. The hospital also 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.  

Paul Tuley, Operations Director at Spire Wellesley Hospital, said:

“Environmental sustainability is a core component of Spire Healthcare’s strategy and Spire Wellesley Hospital is proud to support this with the installation of solar panels. I would like to thank hospital colleagues and consultants for sharing our enthusiasm and determination to meet our goal of becoming carbon neutral by the end of 2030.”