Solar for surgeries, dental and veterinary practices
A practice fits solar well when it is open in daylight on most weekdays, owns or controls its roof, and has a steady electricity bill. Most surgeries and practices tick the first box; the second is the one to check.
| Practice | What runs in the day |
|---|---|
| GP surgery | Lighting, computers and phones, vaccine and medicine fridges, ventilation, heating and cooling |
| Dental practice | Compressors and suction, sterilising equipment, X-ray, lighting, IT |
| Veterinary practice | Theatres, imaging, sterilising, laundry, kennel heating, and for some, round-the-clock care |
| Pharmacy or clinic | Refrigeration, lighting and IT through opening hours |
Twelve months of half-hourly data shows the installer how much of that is in daylight.
Owned, leased or NHS property
- Owned by the partners or the business. The practice decides, subject to planning
- Leased from a private landlord. The landlord must consent, and the lease decides who owns the panels and who benefits
- Leased from an NHS body or a council. The same principle: the owner has to agree, and they may have their own process
- Shared buildings. Health centres with several occupiers need agreement on who pays and who uses the power
See solar on leased property for landlord consent, green lease clauses and selling power to tenants.
Find out what solar would do for your practice: book a free site survey.
Book a free site surveyNHS estates and Great British Energy
NHS trusts are public bodies with their own estates teams and public procurement rules. Great British Energy said on 24 October 2025 that, as part of an expanded scheme funding solar for NHS sites, military sites and schools, 34 NHS trusts across England, including 10 already in the programme, would receive funding from it and the government for new solar panels (GBE). If you work for a trust, start with your estates team. If you run an independent practice, the rest of this page applies.
VAT for healthcare buildings
HMRC's zero rate for energy-saving materials applies to residential accommodation, which includes hospices, and to buildings used solely for a relevant charitable purpose; it names hospitals as standard-rated (Notice 708/6). Most practices pay the standard rate. Many medical and dental services are exempt from VAT (Notice 701/57), and a business making exempt supplies may only be able to reclaim part of the VAT it pays, or none (GOV.UK). Ask your accountant, and compare quotes including VAT if you can't reclaim it. More in VAT on solar panels.
Paying for it
A practice business that buys the system can usually claim capital allowances. A loan, lease or power purchase agreement spreads or removes the upfront cost: see paying for commercial solar. For a sense of price and return, see what commercial solar costs and payback.
Sources
Great British Energy's NHS announcement, HMRC Notice 708/6 and GOV.UK were read on 2 November 2026.
- Great British Energy: NHS sites to cut bills with Great British Energy solar panels (24 October 2025)
- HMRC VAT Notice 708/6: energy-saving materials (hospitals standard-rated, hospices residential)
- GOV.UK: Charge, reclaim and record VAT
- HMRC VAT Notice 701/57: health professionals and pharmaceutical products
General information, not tax advice.