The project to create Lanarkshire’s new hospital has revealed plans to harness the power of the sun to help meet its sustainability goals.

The new University Hospital Monklands at Wester Moffat in Airdrie will have a large “solar farm” producing electricity to power Scotland’s first hospital to be net zero carbon for construction and operation.

Having received planning consent from North Lanarkshire Council earlier this year, the 11 acres of ground-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) panels will play a key role in the energy provision for the Monklands Replacement Project (MRP).

The operational footprint of the farm, which also includes two electricity substations, an access road and ancillary infrastructure, will occupy approximately 11.6 acres in total.

MRP Director Graeme Reid said:

“Given the project’s commitment to sustainability, we’re delighted to have the opportunity to use solar PV. It will be part of a fully-electric energy strategy alongside air source heat pumps and water source heat pumps.

“Some solar power will come from panels on part of the hospital’s roof but most of it – up to two megawatts – will be generated by the solar farm at the eastern edge of the site.

“The farm will have approximately 6,350 solar panels, each measuring about 3.4 feet by six feet. They’ll be arranged in south-facing clusters, each with around 50 panels inclined at the best angle for year-round solar energy generation.”

The Scottish Government is now considering approval of the MRP’s Full Business Case. Approval would give the green light to the start of hospital construction, with a targeted opening in 2031.