ZLC Energy delivers UK’s most comprehensive hospital solar‑plus‑storage system, cutting electricity costs by £750,000 per year and rural grid dependency by 75%
The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital (RJAH) in Oswestry, Shropshire, is the first NHS hospital in the UK to fully utilise all viable roof and car park space for solar generation. The multi‑technology system, engineered and delivered by Cornwall‑based renewables specialist ZLC Energy, provides clean, reliable power to theatres, diagnostics and inpatient wards day and night, supported by integrated battery storage and a bespoke energy‑management system.
RJAH’s annual electricity demand, like most NHS hospitals, is high, typically 3.3–4GWh, driven by ~200 inpatient and critical‑care beds, 15 operating theatres, and full MRI/CT diagnostic suites. The new system offsets around 75% of the hospital’s grid electricity use, generating 2.5–3GWh of clean energy annually and delivering £750,000 in yearly savings. Carbon emissions are reduced by ~600 tonnes per year, comparable to the electricity use of 1,000+ UK homes.
The fully integrated solar‑plus‑storage system built for a live acute hospital includes:
- 3MW solar PV, deployed across every viable rooftop and carport structure on the live hospital estate
- 650kWh battery storage, enabling stored solar to support clinical operations overnight
- A bespoke energy‑management system (EMS) that balances generation, storage and demand across theatres, wards and estates operations
- Carport structures engineered for continuous public use, vehicle clearance and rapid installation in busy hospital parking areas
The system was delivered over six years (2020–2026), maintaining programme continuity throughout the pandemic and working around clinical operations without disruption.
Engineering solutions for a rural, capacity‑constrained grid
RJAH’s rural grid connection required careful integration of large‑scale generation and storage. ZLC Energy designed a full energy‑management solution that ensures safe operation within DNO export limits while maximising on‑site consumption.
Mark Smith CEng CEnv mCIWEM, Director at ZLC Energy, said:
“We’re proud to have delivered a full energy‑management solution that allows this large solar and battery system to dovetail seamlessly into a rural, complex grid. The 650kWh battery system captures excess solar generation during the day and powers the hospital at night.”
A repeatable blueprint for NHS estates teams
The NHS aims to reach net zero by 2040, with an interim 80% carbon‑reduction target by 2032. RJAH’s estates team and ZLC Energy say the project demonstrates that large‑scale, complex decarbonisation can be delivered on live hospital sites without interrupting clinical services, and that the model is directly transferable to other Trusts with high energy demand and constrained grid connections.
Nick Huband, Director of Estates and Facilities at RJAH, said: “This should be the blueprint for all NHS organisations.”
ENDS
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Media Contact:
Mark Smith CEng CEnv mCIWEM, Director, ZLC Energy
[email protected]
Tel: +44 (0)1726 390 390
About ZLC Energy
Founded in 2012, ZLC Energy is a Cornwall-based company delivering honest, high-quality renewable energy solutions for commercial and public sector clients across the UK. The company specialises in solar PV systems, solar carports, battery storage, heat pumps, and combined heat and power (CHP), helping businesses reduce costs, lower carbon emissions, and build a more sustainable, resilient energy future.