Renewable energy investment supports greener, more efficient NHS services in Kent and Medway
Date added: 19 June 2026
Last updated: 19 June 2026
Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust has completed the first phase of a major solar panel installation programme that is expected to save around £74,000 a year in energy costs, helping direct more resources towards patient care while reducing carbon emissions.
On 21 June, the longest day of the year, the trust is highlighting how investment in renewable energy is delivering environmental, financial and operational benefits across its estate.
The project, funded through the NHS solar initiative supported by Great British Energy and NHS England, is helping the trust generate more of its own electricity, reduce reliance on the grid and improve energy resilience across multiple sites.
When fully operational, the first phase is expected to generate more than 367,000 kWh of renewable electricity annually. The savings achieved through lower energy costs can be reinvested into frontline services, supporting patients and communities across Kent and Medway.
Solar panels are already in place at Archery House, Greenacres, The Beacon, St Martin’s Hospital and the Trevor Gibbens Unit. New installations are now live at Kings Road Clinic in Herne Bay, the Rosebud Centre in West Malling, the Rivendell Unit in Sandwich, Ash Eton in Folkestone, Oak Apple, Littlebrook Hospital and Heathside.
Sirina Blankson Head of Sustainability, Environment and EFM Compliance Assurance at Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust, said: “This investment demonstrates how sustainability can deliver direct benefits for patient care. By generating more renewable energy on site, we can reduce costs, cut carbon emissions and strengthen the resilience of our estate. Every pound we save on energy can be reinvested into supporting our services and the people who rely on them.”
The programme supports the trust’s Green Plan and the wider NHS ambition to reach net zero, while improving the efficiency and resilience of healthcare buildings.
Across the NHS, renewable energy projects are helping organisations lower operational costs and reduce emissions. For Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust, the solar programme forms part of a long-term commitment to creating a more sustainable healthcare system while ensuring resources are focused on delivering high-quality care.
