A Welsh solar farm has recently been exceeding expectations in powering a Swansea hospital. Brynwhilach is owned by the local health board and has generated enough over a 50-hour period to fulfil all of the energy needs of Morriston hospital.

But how?

About Brynwhilach

This installation is the first solar farm owned by a health board and directly linked to a hospital. The installation has periodically generated all of the electricity needed to run the site, even during some winter months.

There were hopes by health chiefs and Welsh government ministers that the solar farm in South-West Wales would be able to supply Morriston hospital with around of a fifth of its energy consumption every year.

There were pleasant surprises all round once they learned that Brynwhilach Farm provided enough energy over one 50-hour period to meet 100% of the hospital’s demands. It is estimated that the 10,000 panel farm (which is linked to the hospital by a two-mile cable) has already saved around £120,000 in electricity bills.

An incredible feat, especially considering it was only turned on in November.

On occasion, the board has even been able to sell power back to the energy grid. The solar farm cost in the region of £5.7m to construct under a loan scheme set up by the Welsh government to begin decarbonising the public sector by 2030.

Julie James, the Welsh Minister for Climate Change, had this to say;

“We want our energy to come from community-owned and locally run renewable energy sources in Wales… This will ensure our supply is resilient, reliable and reasonable for both our planet and our pockets. Morriston hospital, which depends not only on the powers of its staff but also the energy-hungry machines to keep their patients alive and well, has blazed the trail.”

It was initially thought that once fully operational, the scheme would work by cutting carbon emissions by 1,000 tonnes and saving £500,000 in energy bills annually. However, the current energy crisis and skyrocketing prices for energy has changed the estimate in savings to double.

Swansea Bay University Health Board’s Assistant Director of Operations, Des Keighan, had this to say;

“It was expected that over the winter months the solar farm would contribute electricity, but that the hospital would still need to continue to buy power from the grid every day… What has come as a pleasant surprise is that for a total of 50 hours, the hospital has been entirely powered by the solar farm.”

Customer Billing – Will I Be Affected?  

As already mentioned, energy costs are spiralling out of control – and the price rises are affecting all of us. For UK energy customers it is difficult to say how your bills will be affected due to the serious volatility in the energy markets. It is important to remember that energy prices as a whole are rising, and this will be passed onto consumers through energy bills, making it something to keep a close eye on.   

Different suppliers will feel the pinch in different ways so it is crucial to be aware of the current situation your energy supplier finds themselves in. It is possible to view up to date supplier profiles with any recent changes for all of the energy suppliers in the UK, here.  

At a time where bills look set to rise due to market volatility, it is also a good idea to ensure that you are not being overcharged for any of your utilities. It can be a tricky task to navigate but there are free online tools to remove the hassle available.

You can find a free online Gas Bill Calculator to see if you are being overcharged, here.  

You can find a free online Electricity Bill Calculator to see if you are being overcharged, here.  

Energy Solutions by Us, for You   

At a time of great uncertainty in global energy markets, it is easy to feel lost in it all.   

Keeping up to date with developing situations and the associated ramifications is a tricky and time-consuming job. It is also one that is not likely a priority for you and your business. 

So, what do you do?  

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Energy Solutions have been trusted brokers for countless businesses for over twenty years, which means we know how to navigate the energy markets during a time of uncertainty.  

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