Solar Canopy for Hospital Car Parks

## NHS Net Zero and the Hospital Car Park Canopy Opportunity NHS England's Delivering a Net Zero NHS report (2020) set a target for the NHS to reach net zero by 2040 for direct emissions (Scope 1 and 2) and 2045 for the wider footprint. Solar canopies on hospital car parks are one of the highest-impact measures available to NHS Trusts because: 1. **Continuous baseload**: Hospitals run 24/7 with HVAC, medical equipment, and lighting that never stops. Self-consumption of solar canopy output typically reaches 88-95%. 2. **Large car parks**: District general hospitals have 200-600+ parking spaces. Teaching hospitals often have 800-2,000+ spaces across main and satellite car parks. 3. **High energy costs**: NHS Trusts pay commercial rates that have risen significantly since 2021. A district general hospital spending £2-4m/year on electricity can save £150,000-£500,000/year from a major canopy installation. 4. **PSDS and Salix funding**: NHS Trusts are public sector bodies eligible for PSDS grants (up to 100% of eligible costs) and Salix interest-free loans. ## Funding Hospital Solar Canopies ### PSDS (Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme) PSDS Phase 4 allocated £1.425bn for public sector decarbonisation. NHS Trusts are a priority category. The scheme covers up to 100% of eligible costs for projects delivering significant Scope 2 emissions reductions. ### Salix Finance NHS Trusts can access Salix interest-free loans for solar PV installations. Repayment is structured against the energy savings — no additional budget required. Most hospital solar canopy projects funded via Salix repay the loan within 5-7 years from energy savings alone. ### NHS PPA (Power Purchase Agreement) Several developers offer zero-capex PPA structures specifically for NHS properties. The Trust pays a discounted energy rate for 15-25 years with no capital outlay. Energy costs are reclassified from capital to revenue — important for NHS capital budget management. ## Patient and Staff Benefit Beyond the financial case, hospital solar canopies provide: - **Covered patient drop-off**: Rain shelter for patient access from car park to entrance - **EV charging for staff**: NHS is rolling out zero-emission vehicle fleets; staff EVs need workplace charging - **Security lighting integration**: Canopy structure provides ideal mounting for enhanced car park lighting - **Night shift safety**: Covered parking for staff finishing late shifts improves perceived safety ## Planning for Hospital Car Parks Hospital sites often have their own local development frameworks or are listed as Major Developed Sites in local plans. Planning for NHS solar canopies is generally supported by councils. Pre-application consultation with the LPA is recommended, particularly for large schemes or sites near residential neighbours. Asbestos surveys are essential for hospital car parks — many 1960s-1990s NHS car parks have asbestos in surfacing or adjacent structures. ## Get a Free NHS Feasibility Study We provide a free desktop feasibility study for NHS Trusts within 5 working days. This includes system size estimate, annual yield, savings, PSDS eligibility assessment, and Salix loan modelling. No commitment required.