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Mercy Health has completed one of Australia’s largest aged care solar rollout programs, with rooftop solar now installed across 24 residential aged care homes nationwide, helping build more resilient services for older Australians while reducing energy costs and carbon emissions.
The initiative forms part of Mercy Health’s Caring for People and Planet Strategy: Our Path Forward 2026–2028, which outlines the organisation’s commitment to supporting healthier communities through sustainable and responsible health and aged care services.
Mercy Health Executive Director Transformation & Improvement and Lead for Mercy Health’s Caring for People and Planet Strategy, Simon Craig, said the project reflects the growing responsibility of health and aged care providers to respond to the health impacts of climate change.
“Older Australians are among those most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, including extreme heat and severe weather events,” Mr Craig said.
“For organisations like Mercy Health, sustainability is not only an environmental responsibility but increasingly a health and care imperative. “The decisions we make today about infrastructure and energy use will help shape the health and wellbeing of the communities we serve into the future.
“By investing in renewable energy, we’re strengthening the resilience of our services while contributing to a healthier environment for current and future generations.”
The multi-year Healthy Ageing Solar Rooftop Program has progressively transformed how Mercy Health powers its residential aged care communities, reducing reliance on the electricity grid while supporting long-term sustainability objectives. Since 2020, the program has been delivered in three stages. The most recent phase saw 2,728 solar panels installed across 12 residential aged care homes, generating a combined capacity of 1.364 megawatts.
With Phase 3 nearing completion, the program has expanded solar generation across 24 existing residential aged care homes nationally. Renewable energy has also been incorporated into new developments, including Mercy Place Mentone, with future projects such as Mercy Place Edgewater in Western Australia and the Rosebud Precinct Redevelopment in Victoria expected to include solar technology as part of Mercy Health’s ongoing investment in sustainable infrastructure.
The program is expected to generate approximately 1,802 megawatt-hours of renewable electricity annually and reduce carbon emissions by around 1,335 tonnes each year, the equivalent to removing more than 290 passenger vehicles from Australian roads.
Mercy Health Chief Executive Healthy Ageing Gavin Young said the initiative demonstrates how aged care providers can manage rising operational costs while continuing to invest in quality care.
“Aged care providers are facing rising costs across every aspect of their operations, including utilities and infrastructure,” Mr Young said.
“Projects like this help us manage those pressures responsibly, reducing expenditure on energy while ensuring more resources can be directed towards the care, comfort and wellbeing of our residents.
“This initiative demonstrates that environmental sustainability and good financial stewardship can go hand in hand, helping us build stronger and more sustainable services for the future.”
The program is expected to deliver approximately $270,000 in annual energy savings, supporting Mercy Health’s continued investment in resident care and services.
