SINCE their installation the solar panels on Holsworthy Hospital’s roof have proven their worth.

Installed towards the end of 2015, the solar panels were part of the North Devon Healthcare NHS Trust’s project to provide a number of hospitals, including Holsworthy Community Hospital, with solar power.

Iain Roy, director of facilities at Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust, said: “We have installed solar panels on many of our sites, and since installation in late 2015, the panels have generated over 250,000 kWh of energy, up to the end of January 2017.

“This is roughly enough power to run the whole North Devon District Hospital site for two weeks, or about 4% of the site’s annual consumption.

“The solar panels are part of a much wider project to reduce our overall energy usage and improve efficiency, which benefits us not only in reducing energy costs for our sites, but also in reducing the trust’s carbon footprint.”

The electrical supply to Holsworthy Hospital was upgraded but the project had to be carefully planned in order to successfully switch over to the new system without causing a loss in service at the community hospital.

The solar panels will hopefully continue to provide the hospital with energy for years to come whilst decreasing outgoing costs.