Newham Hospital has been awarded £13.8m in government funding to deliver a comprehensive package of energy efficiency upgrades.
The energy efficiency upgrades are aimed at reducing carbon emissions, cutting operational costs, and enhancing the environment for patients, visitors, and staff across the hospital estate.
The funding was provided by the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, administered by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, and delivered by Salix.
Newham Hospital has been awarded £13.8m in government funding to deliver a comprehensive package of energy efficiency upgrades
Salix is a government-funded organisation that provides interest-free loans and grants to public sector bodies for energy efficiency and decarbonisation projects.
These measures will enable Newham Hospital to take a significant step towards achieving net-zero carbon emissions, positioning it to become the first hospital within Barts Health NHS Trust to reach this milestone within the next two years.
Collectively, the planned improvements are expected to generate annual savings of approximately £111,000 on energy costs, while substantially lowering the hospital’s carbon footprint.
A multi-faceted approach to sustainable healthcare
The programme of works, scheduled to commence next year, includes the installation of thousands of solar panels across the hospital’s rooftops.
These panels are projected to generate 955,015 kWh of electricity annually, saving an estimated £248,000 and reducing carbon emissions by 37 tonnes of CO₂ each year.
In parallel, ageing gas boilers will be replaced with modern low-carbon electric heat pumps, providing heating, cooling, and hot water throughout the hospital.
This transition is anticipated to deliver a significant annual carbon saving of around 2,150 tonnes of CO₂.
The decarbonisation works are expected to be completed within the next two years
To accommodate these enhancements, the hospital’s electrical infrastructure will be upgraded, increasing capacity to support the additional load from the new heat pumps and future energy demands.
Further improvements include the hospital-wide installation of energy-efficient LED lighting and the implementation of a new Building Management System (BMS).
The BMS will optimise energy use, improve internal environmental conditions, and prevent areas from becoming excessively hot or cold, helping to reduce energy waste and create a more comfortable and sustainable healthcare environment.
Commitment to a greener NHS
This investment forms part of a broader commitment by the NHS to deliver on its ambitious net-zero targets, ensuring that healthcare services play a leading role in addressing the climate emergency.
A spokesperson for Barts Health NHS Trust said: "This funding marks a pivotal moment for Newham Hospital as we work towards creating a greener, more sustainable hospital for our patients, staff, and community.
“These improvements will not only help reduce our carbon emissions and energy costs but also support a more comfortable, efficient, and future-ready healthcare facility."
The decarbonisation works are expected to be completed within the next two years, helping to establish Newham Hospital as a sector leader in sustainable healthcare infrastructure.
Top image: Newham Hospital