Health facilities across NSW will save on electricity bills and reduce their carbon footprint under a $20 million NSW Government initiative for energy saving projects.
Thirty-seven health facilities statewide are now fitted with solar panels under the $5.5 million NSW Health Solar Program, and a further eight hospitals and nine ambulance stations are set to reap savings and efficiencies through a $14.5 million expanded solar upgrade program.
Energy Minister Matt Kean said the NSW Government’s $20 million investment is fast-tracking sustainable, modern and affordable energy generation for health facilities in NSW.
“Installing solar on our hospitals and ambulance sites is a no brainer – the buildings have big rooftops that are perfect for solar installations,” Mr Kean said.
“Solar will help our hospitals to save money on their energy bills and lower their carbon footprint.”
Under the $5.5 million NSW Health Solar Program, solar panel installations have now been rolled out at hospitals, Multipurpose Services, ambulance stations and health facility carparks across the state. The project is expected to save more than $500,000 in energy bills.
The NSW Government’s investment of $14.5 million for energy saving projects and large-scale solar upgrades at eight hospitals across four Local Health Districts and nine ambulance stations is expected to save $2.6 million in energy bills and reduce emissions by around 9,445 tonnes CO2e per year.
Mr Hazzard said: “More than two thirds of the solar panels have been installed at rural and regional health facilities, including hospitals recently opened at Macksville and Mudgee – projects that were fast-tracked in response to COVID-19.
“Our world-leading healthcare system never sleeps, operating 24/7 right across the State, so this funding boost will help us substantially reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.
“By making our health facilities more energy-efficient, these projects will also help keep costs down, and free up funds that can be invested back into our health system.”
The projects are expected to be completed by June 2021.
The NSW Government has invested $10 billion on health infrastructure since 2011, with $10.1 billion more committed over the four years from 2019-20, including more than $900 million for rural and regional areas in 2019-20.
Sites for the NSW Health Solar Program
| Health facility | Local Health District/Health Entity |
| Artarmon NSW Ambulance Superstation | NSW Ambulance |
| Bankstown NSW Ambulance Superstation | NSW Ambulance |
| Barham MPS | Murrumbidgee LHD |
| Birmingham Gardens NSW Ambulance Station | NSW Ambulance |
| Blacktown NSW Ambulance Superstation | NSW Ambulance |
| Braidwood MPS | Southern NSW LHD |
| Bungendore NSW Ambulance Station | NSW Ambulance |
| Campbelltown Hospital Carpark | South Western Sydney LHD |
| Caringbah NSW Ambulance Superstation | NSW Ambulance |
| Cobar Hospital | Western NSW LHD |
| Coffs Harbour Hospital Carpark | Mid North Coast LHD |
| Cowra NSW Ambulance Station | NSW Ambulance |
| Culairn MPS | Murrumbidgee LHD |
| Goulburn NSW Ambulance Station | NSW Ambulance |
| Grenfell NSW Ambulance Station | NSW Ambulance |
| Griffith Hospital | Murrumbidgee LHD |
| Haberfield NSW Ambulance Superstation | NSW Ambulance |
| Hamlyn Terrace NSW Ambulance Station | NSW Ambulance |
| Holbrook Hospital | Murrumbidgee LHD |
| Kogarah NSW Ambulance Superstation | NSW Ambulance |
| Liverpool NSW Ambulance Superstation | NSW Ambulance |
| Macksville Hospital | Mid North Coast LHD |
| Mona-Vale Hospital | Northern Sydney LHD |
| Mudgee Hospital | Western NSW LHD |
| Murrumburrah-Harden Hospital | Murrumbidgee LHD |
| Murrurundi Hospital | Hunter New England LHD |
| Northmead NSW Ambulance Superstation | NSW Ambulance |
| Penrith NSW Ambulance Superstation | NSW Ambulance |
| Port Macquarie Hospital Carpark | Mid North Coast LHD |
| Pottsville NSW Ambulance Station | NSW Ambulance |
| Rutherford NSW Ambulance Station | NSW Ambulance |
| Tocumwal MPS | Murrumbidgee LHD |
| Toukley NSW Ambulance Station | NSW Ambulance |
| Tumbarumba Hospital | Murrumbidgee LHD |
| Wagga Wagga Hospital | Murrumbidgee LHD |
| Wauchope NSW Ambulance Station | NSW Ambulance |
| Yass NSW Ambulance Station | NSW Ambulance |
Sites for the $14.5 million energy emission and solar upgrade projects
| Local Health District/ Health entity |
Description |
| Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District | Installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems and lighting upgrades at Nepean, Blue Mountains and Lithgow Hospitals. |
| Ambulance NSW | Installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems across nine sites across the state. |
| Hunter New England Local Health District | Large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) generation systems at Armidale, Belmont, Tamworth and Wallsend Hospitals. |
| Central Coast Local Health District | Installation of a 1.166 MWp solar photovoltaic (PV) system at Gosford Hospital. |
| Western NSW Local Health District | Installation of a 395 kWp solar photovoltaic (PV) system at Parkes Hospital. |