Hospitals, Military Sites Get Clean Energy Boost

£74 million in funding for energy efficiency upgrades to cut bills and create savings for frontline services

Published on Feb. 5, 2026

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The UK government is providing £74 million in funding to help 82 NHS Trusts, 8 military sites, and 1 prison adopt clean energy technologies and improve energy efficiency. These upgrades, which include solar panels, heat pumps, and battery storage, are expected to save the sites almost £30 million per year on energy bills. The funding will also be used to partner with the new publicly-owned energy company Great British Energy to further invest in renewable energy projects for these public facilities.

Why it matters

This investment in clean energy upgrades for hospitals, military bases, and other public buildings will help reduce operating costs and redirect those savings back into frontline services like healthcare and national defense. It's part of the government's broader 'clean power mission' to cut energy bills, invest in public infrastructure, and provide greater energy security for the country.

The details

The £74 million in funding will be used for a variety of clean energy upgrades, including solar panels, heat pumps, and battery storage systems. Lincoln County Hospital will receive over £1.2 million for solar panels, while the Harbour mental health hospital in Blackpool will get £590,000 for new battery technology. Several RAF stations will also benefit from upgrades to manage energy usage more efficiently. An additional £9 million will be delivered in partnership with the new publicly-owned energy company Great British Energy to further invest in renewable energy projects for these public facilities.

  • The funding was announced on February 5, 2026.

The players

Martin McCluskey

Minister for Energy Consumers

Wes Streeting

Health and Social Care Secretary

Dan McGrail

CEO of Great British Energy

Great British Energy

A new publicly-owned energy company that will partner on renewable energy projects for public facilities.

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What they’re saying

“More money will go straight to frontline services as hospitals, prisons and military sites benefit from cheaper bills and cutting-edge green technology.”

— Martin McCluskey, Minister for Energy Consumers

“With lower bills for hospitals, better value for money, and a cleaner, more efficient NHS, everybody wins. Every penny of these savings will be redirected straight back into frontline care and delivering an NHS patients, staff and the whole country can be proud of again.”

— Wes Streeting, Health and Social Care Secretary

“Communities are at the heart of our mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower. Clean local energy projects enable communities to directly benefit from cleaner, more secure power.”

— Dan McGrail, CEO of Great British Energy

What’s next

The funding will be delivered over the next year, with the clean energy upgrades expected to be completed by the end of 2027.

The takeaway

This investment in clean energy for public facilities like hospitals and military bases will help reduce operating costs, redirect those savings back into frontline services, and support the government's broader goals of cutting energy bills, investing in public infrastructure, and providing greater energy security for the country.