A new solar array at Langdon Hospital in Dawlish was formally switched-on on Thursday 1 October. The array will meet 60% of the site’s electrical demand and save the NHS around £185k a year.
Last year, Devon Partnership NHS Trust (DPT) was awarded just over £3m to install solar panels at seven sites – including a ground array at Langdon Hospital. The award comes as part of a £180m national clean energy programme from the Department for Energy Security, Net Zero and Great British Energy.
Martin Wrigley, MP for Newton Abbot, was on-hand to complete the switch-on. Commenting on the project, he said: “It’s been a pleasure to celebrate the opening of the new solar array at Langdon Hospital. This 1 megawatt array will generate almost enough electricity to make the site largely self-sufficient. Not only will it reduce the hospital’s carbon footprint, it will also make the site more resilient. All in all, this is a great example of how investment in renewable energy can benefit both local services and the environment”.
The ground array at Langdon Hospital in Dawlish covers a relatively small area of land (approximately 3.5 acres) but has the potential to meet 60% of the site’s current electrical demand. As part of the planning process, local residents were invited to come and look at the proposal for the site.
Phill Mantay, Chief Executive of DPT, said: “This investment not only supports our commitment to sustainability but also ensures significant cost savings that can be redirected into enhancing patient care. By embracing renewable energy, we are taking a crucial step towards a greener future for our organisation and the wider NHS community.”
Gabriel Wondrausch, founder and director of SunGift Solar, said: “The solar panels for the ground array have been installed using low carbon steel construction which delivers a 60% reduction in CO2 emissions compared to standard steel systems. The battery storage solution we’ve used will enable the site to reduce their peak demand charges and increase self-consumption of generated energy.”
In addition to the ground array at Langdon Hospital there are six rooftop solar arrays at other DPT sites. They are at Jasmine Lodge, The Junipers, The Cedars and Franklyn Hospital in Exeter, the Chadwell Centre in Paignton and St John’s Court in Exmouth.
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