Three health boards including Hywel Dda, will receive more than £10m in Welsh Government funding this year and next, to install new solar energy measures and help them improve energy efficiency across their estates, resulting in carbon and financial savings.

This investment builds on £2m provided last year, as part of a larger £17m programme.

The funding - repayable on an Invest to Save basis - will support energy projects for Hywel Dda University Health Board; as well as Swansea University, and Cardiff and Vale University Health Boards.

The funding includes £2m in Covid recovery funds, earmarked for an ambitious 4MW solar farm project for SBUHB, which will help to power Morriston Hospital in Swansea.

The decision to grant the funds was announced on December 2, by the Minister for Health and Social Service; the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs and the Minister for Finance.

Hywel Dda University Health Board will see £1.75m funding granted to allow the Health Board to install solar panels on buildings across its estate, as well as other energy efficiency measures, with £250k provided this year and, £1.5m provided next year.

Each of the health boards has worked with the Welsh Government Energy Service – which provides advice and support on energy to communities and public bodies – to identify opportunities to improve their energy efficiency and increase the use of renewable energy across their estates.

Vaughan Gething, the Minister for Health and Social Services, said: “Our NHS has been at the forefront of Wales’ response to the Covid-19 pandemic and the importance of the sustainability and strength of the services provided by our hospitals cannot be over-stated.

“Wherever possible, we want to help our health boards to see where savings can be made, whilst at the same time supporting them to maintain their vital services.

“Measures such as these which will help our hospitals to lessen their energy use are hugely important and I am pleased my fellow Ministers and I have been able to announce these funds today.”

Lesley Griffiths, the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs, said: “As we look towards making Wales a carbon-neutral nation, we want to do everything we can to support public bodies, such as health boards, to minimise their carbon output through efficiency measures and to use renewable options wherever possible.

“I would like to thank each of the health boards for the work they have already undertaken in this respect.

Rebecca Evans, the Minister for Finance said: “We are determined to keep Wales moving forward and will continue to be guided by our values as we build a recovery together.

“This investment is an important part of our £320m Covid reconstruction package which is dedicated to supporting jobs and protecting the future of our public services and our planet.”