On 12 March 2026, the North East Ambulance Service finished major green energy projects across Gateshead and Tyne and Wear, including solar panels and new heating systems, to lower running costs and protect frontline patient care.
The organisation also used 2.2 million pounds in national funding to install 46 fast-charging points for electric vehicles across seven different ambulance stations. These high-powered chargers can boost an emergency vehicle to 80 per cent power in about 15 minutes, which helps the team move toward an electric fleet without slowing down emergency response times.
By using solar energy and heat pumps at its sites, the service can generate its own power and reduce its reliance on traditional energy. These changes are expected to save money on energy bills over the long term, allowing the trust to put more cash back into looking after patients.
Since the first carbon management plan was launched in 2012, the service has cut its main carbon emissions by 65 per cent. The ambulance service education centre in Gateshead is one of the local sites involved in this push for cleaner technology.
The North East Ambulance Service Environmental and Sustainability Team managed the upgrades to make the stations more reliable. These updates aim to create a cleaner environment for the community while making sure the service is ready for a greener future.
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