A three week project to install solar panels at Trinity Hospice is due to start this week, helping us become more environmentally conscious – and save money.

The panels will save Trinity around £3,000 a year on energy costs straight away and also provide a good medium-long term return on investment from the feed-in tariff payments at around £6,000 per year (index linked) for 20 years.

The idea of installing solar panels has been discussed since 2011, with Trustees deciding to wait until installation and tariff rates stabilised and Trinity’s major refurbishment was complete.

After a tendering process, the contract for installation has been awarded to H.T. Forrest, who replaced the roof at Trinity several years ago.  They will be installing solar panel arrays to provide the maximum output from available roof space and the panels are to be placed on the In-Patient roof, facing the hospice gardens.

Local residents were consulted at a drop-in event, and in response to their comments Trinity has chosen black panels with an anti-glare coating. 

Every effort will be taken to minimise disruption during installation, with patient locations carefully planned to avoid disruption from any noisy work. As always, the needs of patients and families come first.

One of the Hospice’s Values is to be environmentally aware

Hospice Facilities Manager Simon Hellawell said: “This is a major project for us and one which will save on energy costs and provide another income stream, as we will be paid for the energy we generate on site.  We have planned installation for just the right time because from the new year, the feed-in tariff will be significantly reduced.  

“Trinity currently spends about £50,000 a year on electricity and we want a more sustainable and green solution.  We also wanted to make sure that our neighbours overlooking the gardens were happy with the work and would not be inconvenienced in any way.

“From our patients’ point of view, the solar panels will be unobtrusive.  Trinity will continue to be as light, warm and cosy as it already is – but it terms of helping us plan and control our energy expenditure for the future, it will make a significant difference.”