Solar Powered Generator Get £180 Million Boost

Date: 31/03/25

At a time when the global stage seems to be going the wrong way on sustainability, there was some good news here in the UK this week. Not only are solar powered generators getting a major boost, but plans have been confirmed for a new National Forest in the South West. 

£180 million for solar powered generators

One of the first projects supported by the Government’s new state-owned energy company, Great British Energy, is an investment in solar powered generators for schools and hospitals. £180 million has been earmarked for the first phase of the scheme, which will see solar panels installed at around 200 schools and 200 hospitals.

Just like Think Hire’s own solar powered generator, this new equipment will not only play a vital role in reducing carbon emissions from these institutions, but it will also help them to slash the cost of rising energy bills. The Energy Secretary, Ed Miliband, pointed out the benefits, claiming that "Great British Energy's first major project will help our vital public institutions save hundreds of millions on bills to reinvest on the frontline".

Announcing the funding, Great British Energy estimated that ‘on average, a typical school could save up to £25,000 per year, whilst the average NHS site could save up to £45,000 per year on their annual energy bill if they had solar panels’.

20 million trees for new national forest

As well as working to cut carbon emissions, investment is also being made to help absorb the carbon that’s already in our atmosphere. Few people know about it, but the UK has a Statutory Tree and Woodland Cover target of 16.5% woodland cover by 2050. This is part of the drive towards Net Zero. With England currently standing at just 10% cover, there is clearly work to be done.

The new national forest, to be called the Western Forest, will cover an area from Gloucester in the north to Salisbury in the south, Bristol in the west to Swindon in the east. The Government will be investing £7.5 million into the forest, to support the planting of 20 million trees. These will combine with existing woodlands to create the new forest, which is the first new National Forest for 30 years.

You don’t need millions to save the environment

Here at Think Hire, we applaud any positive moves to protect the environment, whether that’s through a solar powered generator or carbon capture projects. Of course, you don’t need to invest millions of pounds, or plant millions of trees, to make a difference. You can help change the world just by changing the way your sites are powered.

The industry leading Solartainer Versatile solar hybrid generators can be used on all kinds of sites to power all kinds of equipment. Available in a range of sizes, from the 30kVA Solartainer S to the 110kVA Solartainer XL, your solar powered generator can be specified and linked to provide exactly the power supplies you need. What’s more, thanks to their innovative, container-based design, they can be deployed almost anywhere you need them, for as long as they’re needed.

And it doesn’t stop there; Think Hire doesn’t just supply a solar powered generator, our dedicated expert team will also work with you to manage their operation, to ensure maximum benefit at minimum cost. Our remote energy management systems are state of the art, delivering real time data, around the clock, to help you optimise your energy use.

To see how easy it is to join over 200 schools and 200 hospitals in using solar powered generators to save money and save the environment, contact Think Hire today. In an ever changing world, you can count on Think Hire to consistently deliver the portable, sustainable energy solutions your business needs.

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