Stuart Anderson MP has welcomed £31 million for the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust to to boost energy efficiency and cut emissions. This funding is being delivered through the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, helping public sector buildings such as schools and hospitals in England drive down on their carbon emissions.
Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust has been awarded £31,391,126 to install air source heat pumps across a variety of NHS Trusts and services buildings, including West Park Hospital and New Cross Hospital at the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, Walsall Manor Hospital at the Walsall NHS Trust, Sandwell General Hospital at Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust, and a training academy and hospital hub of West Midlands Ambulance Service. The energy efficiency of the buildings will also be improved through the installation of a variety of measures, including LED lighting, double glazing, cavity wall insulation, and high efficiency motors. Solar panels will also be installed at Sandwell General Hospital to provide a source of renewable energy.
The upgraded heating system, powered by cleaner, cheaper, renewable energy, will reduce the use of fossil fuels exposed to volatile global energy prices – supporting jobs and saving taxpayers money. The Scheme aims to support the Government’s commitment to reduce emissions from public sector buildings by 75% by 2037, compared to 2017 levels, as first set out in the 2021 Heat and Buildings Strategy.
More than £2 billion has been awarded across over 900 projects to decarbonise the public sector across all phases of the scheme to date. This follows significant progress that the UK has already made towards reaching net zero - cutting all emissions by 48% between 1990 and 2021, which is faster than any other G7 country. Decarbonising the public sector with low carbon heating and energy efficiency measures is also expected to save the public sector an estimated £650 million per year on average to 2037.
Stuart Anderson MP said: “We are on a mission to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from public sector buildings by 75% by 2037, which is why I am delighted that the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust has received more than £31 million through the Government’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme to fund heat decarbonisation and energy efficiency measures. Facilities such as West Park Hospital in my own constituency provide an invaluable service to many of our local residents, and this funding will enable to drive down on their carbon emissions as we move towards greater energy independence in the United Kingdom.”
Lord Callanan, Minister for Energy Efficiency and Green Finance, said: “The UK is truly a world-leader when it comes to reducing carbon emissions and the progress we’ve made over the last decade has been remarkable. But we can’t rest on our laurels and must continue to drive forward progress, setting a standard for other countries to follow. Reaching net zero means considerable action from the public sector as well as private sector. Through the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme funding allocation announced today, we are empowering public bodies to save the taxpayer hundreds of millions while packing a punch on our ambitious and necessary climate goals.”