Langdon Hospital: Supporting a Greener Future for NHS Healthcare with Low Carbon Steel
Langdon Hospital: Supporting a Greener Future for NHS Healthcare with Low Carbon Steel
What was once 3.5 acres of underused land at Langdon Hospital in Dawlish has been transformed into a productive solar energy site, using Solarport’s 2-in-Portrait to maximise the available space.
Delivered by SunGift Solar and installed by SPS PowerBuild, the 1.042 MWp site features 1,628 panels mounted on our Solarport system, alongside an intelligent battery storage system. Together, they are expected to generate more than 1 million kWh of clean electricity each year.
The project is predicted to meet more than 60% of the hospital’s annual electricity needs, while cutting carbon emissions by over 145 tonnes a year and saving the Devon NHS Trust nearly £185,000 in annual energy costs.
The project demonstrates how Solarport can help healthcare organisations make better use of available land, turning underused space into a valuable source of renewable energy.
The Challenge
Delivering a project of this scale within a busy, fully operational hospital required careful planning and coordination.
With clinical services continuing throughout the installation, SPS PowerBuild had to complete the works without disrupting the hospital’s day-to-day operations.
The project also presented significant engineering challenges, including several miles of cabling connecting the solar site to the hospital and two additional connection points.
The Solution
By combining solar generation with intelligent battery storage, the mounting system has been designed to maximise the value of the clean energy generated on site.
Featuring our 2-in-portrait system with 2m embedment C-Pile foundations, the installation supports 1,628 high-efficiency JA Solar panels, integrated with Sigenergy hybrid inverters and SigenStack battery storage to create a high-performance renewable energy system.
Manufactured using low-carbon steel, our mounting system delivers a 66% reduction in embodied CO₂ compared with conventional mounting frames, helping to reduce the project’s carbon impact beyond the renewable electricity it generates.
The ground-mount system has been designed to make efficient use of the available land while providing the robust, durable infrastructure needed to support the array throughout its operational lifetime.
Alongside the solar array, the battery system stores excess electricity generated during daylight hours for use when it is needed most, including overnight and during periods of higher hospital demand.
Together, these technologies enable Langdon Hospital to use more of the renewable electricity generated on site, reducing its reliance on imported grid electricity and limiting exposure to higher peak-demand energy prices.
At the heart of the project is our Solarport 2-in-Portrait mounting system, designed to make the most of the available land while providing a strong, durable structure for the solar array.
The system uses 2m embedment C-Pile foundations and supports 1,628 high-efficiency JA Solar panels. The array is paired with Sigenergy hybrid inverters and SigenStack battery storage, allowing more of the energy generated on site to be used by the hospital.
A key part of the Solarport system is the use of low-carbon steel. This gives the mounting structure a 66% lower embodied CO₂ footprint than conventional mounting frames, helping to reduce the carbon impact of the project from the outset.
The battery system stores surplus solar energy generated during the day, making it available when the hospital needs it, including overnight and during periods of higher demand.
By combining Solarport’s low-carbon steel mounting system with solar generation and battery storage, Langdon Hospital can make greater use of the renewable energy generated on site. This helps reduce its reliance on grid electricity and avoid higher energy costs during periods of peak demand.
The Results
The Langdon Hospital system is expected to:
- Generate more than 1,068,000 kWh of clean electricity each year
- Meet more than 60% of the hospital’s annual electricity requirements
- Save Devon Partnership NHS Trust nearly £185,000 per year
- Reduce carbon emissions by more than 145 tonnes annually
- Generate electricity equivalent to the annual consumption of approximately 396 homes
- Reduce reliance on imported grid electricity and exposure to peak electricity prices.
The carbon saving alone is estimated to be equivalent to the amount of carbon absorbed by approximately 6,500 trees.
Supporting a Lower Carbon NHS
Projects such as Langdon Hospital show how underused healthcare estate can be put to good use by generating renewable energy.
As NHS organisations work towards reducing carbon emissions, the project demonstrates how available land, renewable technology and energy storage can work together to deliver practical, long-term benefits.
For more information on the project, visit SunGift Solar here.