Castle Hill colleagues welcomed a special visitor today in the form of Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP.

Mr Miliband visited the hospital today to speak with staff about our work on green energy and sustainability, before heading over to the solar field for a walk-around.

The visit coincides with legislation for Britain’s new publicly-owned energy company, GB Energy, passing through Parliament today.

Mr Miliband was joined on his visit by Chris Gormley, Acting Chief Sustainability Officer for the NHS and Dan McGrail, Interim Chief Executive Officer for GB Energy.

There was time for a quick hello with staff inside the Learning and Innovation Centre (left), including some of our clinical nurse educators and members of the portering team on arrival.

Then our visiting VIPs spent time with Tom Myers, Group Director of Estates, Alex Best, Group Deputy Director of Capital Services, and Marc Beaumont, Head of Sustainability, discussing the benefits the solar field has delivered to date.  During times of peak generation, the solar panels at Castle Hill can power the hospital completely, saving in excess of £200,000 per month, and there are plans to further enhance this through battery storage in the coming weeks.

They also discussed plans for solar projects at HRI, Scunthorpe and Grimsby which will be supported by grants amounting to £8.5million from GB Energy, as follows:

• • Hull Royal Infirmary – £6,063,236 to install a mixture of solar car ports into staff parking areas and roof mounted solar PV. Together, these will generate estimated savings of £635,080 per year.
  • Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital, Grimsby – £1,328,496 to install further roof mounted solar PV, generating estimated savings of £179,632.89 per year.
  • Scunthorpe General Hospital – £1,069,111 to complement the PSDS works currently ongoing on this site.

L-R: Energy Secretary, Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP, Tom Myers and Dan McGrail

These solar panels are expected to be installed this summer, and are collectively projected to deliver up to £14.2 million in lifetime bills savings.

The NHSHHP allocation is part of a £200 million UK-wide solar scheme, which is set to deliver new rooftop solar power and renewable energy schemes for schools, hospitals and communities.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said:

“Castle Hill Hospital is a fantastic example of how solar power can slash energy bills, allowing money to be spent on hospital services.

“That’s why Great British Energy is rolling out the first dedicated solar scheme for the NHS, with solar panel funding going to three hospitals in the Humber region.

“This is our clean energy superpower mission in action, with lower bills and energy security for our country.”

Ed Miliband seated in the eCargo bike alongside porters Leanne and Tony

Tom Myers, Group Director of Estates for NHS Humber Health Partnership says:

“Castle Hill Hospital, and our local community, have been enjoying the benefits of green energy for well over two years now. Not only do our solar fields save us thousands of pounds on energy bills, but they also help to reduce emissions and they power the equipment used to operate on patients, to deliver treatment, and save lives.

“Knowing the potential which solar energy has, we’re thrilled to have been chosen to receive further funding of £8.5m for solar projects across our other hospital sites in Hull, Scunthorpe and Grimsby; funding which will ultimately help to make Scunthorpe General Hospital in particular one of the greenest hospital sites in the country.”