University Hospitals Dorset (UHD) is advancing its sustainability goals with the initiation of a solar photovoltaic (PV) project at Poole Hospital, bringing the institution closer to achieving its desired net zero status. Aztec Solar Energy, now a Centrica Business Solutions energy partner, will oversee the design and installation of the solar PV system.
The project entails the installation of 470 PV panels across five interconnected roofs on a single building, complemented by five SolarEdge inverters and 261 optimisers. Projections indicate that the system will generate approximately 200,000 kWh of electricity annually, leading to an estimated reduction of 50 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year.
Following the installation of panels, inverters, and associated equipment over preceding weeks, Aztec Solar will undertake the connection, commissioning, and testing of the new solar PV system within a span of just two days.
Stuart Lane, UHD’s sustainability and carbon manager, expressed enthusiasm for the project’s successful milestones, highlighting the collaborative efforts to overcome site constraints and logistical challenges. He emphasized the institution’s dedication to advancing its carbon reduction targets through initiatives like the solar PV installation, which is expected to contribute around five percent of Poole Hospital’s power demand.
The solar panel arrays, strategically positioned atop the Phillip Arnold blocks and the Dorset Cancer Centre, underscore UHD’s commitment to embracing renewable energy as part of its broader decarbonization strategy, aimed at enhancing healthcare facilities and services for the community.
Phil Bryant, head of public sector sales for Centrica Business Solutions, praised Aztec Solar’s expertise and experience in delivering solar PV projects, particularly in the healthcare sector. He noted the growing interest among public sector and commercial entities in leveraging solar schemes to achieve cost certainty and access sustainable power sources, aligning with long-term sustainability objectives.
Chris Cowling, commercial director at Aztec Solar, emphasized the company’s focus on minimizing disruptions to patient wellbeing and medical equipment during installation, drawing on its extensive experience in providing solar solutions for healthcare buildings.
The collaboration between UHD, Centrica Business Solutions, and Aztec Solar exemplifies a concerted effort to harness renewable energy solutions, marking a significant step towards realizing net zero ambitions while ensuring operational resilience and environmental stewardship within the healthcare sector.