Sheffield Renewables has partnered with NHS South Yorkshire ICB to:
• contact GP surgeries within the wider Sheffield and systematically assess their suitability for rooftop solar PV
• survey the energy efficiency of several practices, covering various building types and providing them energy efficiency/fabric improvements advice.
• sharing the outcomes of our investigations with Sheffield GP practices via the ICB communication channels to inform future sustainability and decarbonisation measures.
GP surgeries are vital community hubs, yet their staff are under substantial pressure.
We found that a single Sheffield GP surgery consumes in one month the electricity an average UK household uses in a year, putting a huge strain on budgets.
Our study highlighted key energy efficiency issues:
• poor insulation
• limited smart/half-hourly monitoring (only 30% of surgeries are currently equipped vs 58% of UK non-domestic buildings)
• limited energy control systems
• slow transition to LED lighting
• need for behavioural changes.
Yet, surgeries’ electricity use aligns well with daylight, making them ideal for solar PV (see image below). By gradually applying our recommendations and adopting solar PV where possible, practices can cut costs and emissions significantly.
This project:
• raised awareness of community energy among Sheffield and South Yorkshire GP practices
• featured the positive impacts of renewables at Birley Health Centre
• provided practices with energy usage and solar PV insights
• highlighted the energy efficiency status of typical GP buildings
• supported 3 surgeries now planning solar PV within 2–3 years
• informed NHS South Yorkshire ICB, which will explore support for surgeries with energy efficiency and building upgrades
• might lead to future partnerships between Sheffield Renewables and GP surgeries.
81% of participating practices were suitable for solar PV. Incompatibilities included limited or shaded roof space, or “human factors” such as fear of change or assumptions that “solar won’t work here.”
Yet, even suitable sites face challenges:
Shadows (70%): from trees, roofs or buildings. While design can mitigate some, tree growth means maintenance agreements are key.
Lack of smart metering: without detailed data, solar PV systems risk being under- or oversized, cutting savings or extending payback. Thankfully, smart meters are now installed with minimum disturbance.
Building ownership: some lenders complicate solar adoption. Encouragingly, some practices now plan to seek mortgage providers supportive of solar.
As a positive outcome, 30% of practices engaged in the project are now planning to take meaningful steps: solar PV, refurbishments, efficiency measures, or switching to supportive lenders.
