Hospital turns to solar power to cut energy bills - 20/03/2012

Business energy users looking to get cheap electricity may wish to follow the lead of one medical facility and consider investing in solar power.

Ilkeston Hospital in Derbyshire has invested more than £150,000 in an array of 212 photovoltaic panels that should help it reduce its annual expense by around £5,500, BusinessGreen reports.

It is also expected to cut carbon emissions by 24 tons a year, while the installation should benefit from the higher Feed-in Tariff rate, having been completed just before the provisional deadline of March 3rd.

Recently, Plaid Cymru's Westminster leader Elfyn Llywd warned the government's cuts to solar subsidies have significantly damaged confidence in the industry.

However, facilities co-ordinator at Derby Community Health Services John Parrott said even based on the lower rate - which may be applicable if the coalition wins a Supreme Court battle - incentive payments and reduced energy bills will pay back the investment by 2019.

"A large proportion of the hospital's power usage is for lighting, with the remainder being used for computers, plant rooms and other appliances," he explained, adding the solar panels will result in much of the organisation's lighting being effectively free.

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