The Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre (BMEC) saw a photovoltaic panel installation in June, in an effort to cut energy use at City Hospital in Birmingham. The initiative was a partnership between Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust (SWBH) and energy supplier EON, who awarded the installation contract to The Green Electrician, to oversee 200 solar modules fitted to the roof of BMEC.
Solar Photovoltaic (PV) is a method of generating electrical power by converting solar radiation (from the sun) into electricity. Photovoltaic power generation employs solar panels comprising a number of cells containing a photovoltaic material.
The PV panels on BMEC’s roof, aim to produce enough energy to power 29 homes for an entire year. The panels
save 50 tonnes of CO2 per year, enough to fill 300 double-decker buses, and will save the Trust around £8,000 per year.
Nick Lane, Estates Compliance Officer, said: “This is a great achievement for SWBH. The Trust has shown a commitment to sustainability and behaviour change and it has really paid off.
“The NHS has a carbon footprint of 18 million tonnes of CO2 per year. There are carbon reduction targets for NHS Trusts and other public bodies to reduce their 2007 footprints by 10% by 2015, 26% by 2020, and a massive 80% by 2050. It is hoped that the initiative will drive down carbon, help save costs and the environment!”
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