July 17, 2026

Every day, while staff care for patients inside Causeway Hospital, 2,300 solar panels on the hospital’s roof are quietly generating clean, renewable energy.

One year on from the installation of the solar photovoltaic (PV) system, the project highlights how sustainability initiatives can support patient care, reduce the hospital’s carbon footprint and help to ensure our services remain effective and efficient for future generations.

The £1.2 million solar roof installation is the largest solar PV installation on any Health and Social Care building in Northern Ireland and one of the largest rooftop solar schemes on the island of Ireland.

With a total capacity of 1.2MWp (megawatt peak), the installation, between 2025-26 offset approximately 119.45 tonnes of carbon emissions while generating clean, renewable electricity to help power the hospital.

Chris Smyth, the Northern Health and Social Care Trust’s Head of Specialist Services, said: “The solar PV installation at Causeway Hospital represents a significant step in our sustainability journey. After its first year of operation, the

Causeway Hospital Solar PV system generated enough renewable electricity to power the equivalent of approximately 200 average Northern Ireland homes for a year, equating to an annual carbon absorption of approximately 5000 – 6000 trees. Projects like this are helping us build a more sustainable and resilient health and social care service for the future.

“The solar roof has not only helped us to reduce our carbon footprint but importantly has enabled us to generate our own electricity to run the hospital. Over the period 2025-26 the Causeway Solar PV system has offset electricity costs in the region of £141.7k.

“Renewable energy in health and social care is an important aspect of how we create a more sustainable and cost-efficient system for generations to come.”

The installation was funded by the Department for the Economy and reflects a growing focus on sustainable infrastructure that delivers environmental and financial benefits. By generating electricity on site, the hospital can reduce its reliance on grid energy while contributing to lower operating costs over the long term.

The solar project forms part of the Trust’s wider commitment to reducing carbon emissions and supporting the regional ambition of achieving a net zero health and social care service.

Alongside the Causeway Hospital scheme, the Trust has continued to invest in a range of energy efficiency initiatives, including LED lighting upgrades, boiler replacement programmes and additional solar projects across its estate.