Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust has completed the first phase of a major solar panel installation programme that is expected to save around £74,000 a year in energy costs.

The project, funded through the NHS solar initiative supported by Great British Energy and NHS England, is helping the trust generate more of its own electricity, reduce reliance on the grid and improve energy resilience across multiple sites.

When fully operational, the first phase is expected to generate more than 367,000 kWh of renewable electricity annually.

Solar panels are already in place at Archery House, Greenacres, The Beacon, St Martin’s Hospital and the Trevor Gibbens Unit. New installations are now live at Kings Road Clinic in Herne Bay, the Rosebud Centre in West Malling, the Rivendell Unit in Sandwich, Ash Eton in Folkestone, Oak Apple, Littlebrook Hospital and Heathside. 

Kent and Medway's Head of Sustainability, Environment and EFM Compliance Assurance Sirina Blankson, said:

“This investment demonstrates how sustainability can deliver direct benefits for patient care. By generating more renewable energy on site, we can reduce costs, cut carbon emissions and strengthen the resilience of our estate. Every pound we save on energy can be reinvested into supporting our services and the people who rely on them.” 

The programme supports the trust’s Green Plan and the wider NHS ambition to reach net zero, while improving the efficiency and resilience of healthcare buildings.

Across the NHS, renewable energy projects are helping organisations lower operational costs and reduce emissions. For Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust, the solar programme forms part of a long-term commitment to creating a more sustainable healthcare system while ensuring resources are focused on delivering high-quality care.