Coventry hospitals to reduce energy costs by £1.6m a year

Published: 25-Oct-2019

Vital Energi enters into energy performance contract which will cut emissions by 4,125 tonnes a year

Vital Energi has guaranteed to cut energy costs by £1.6m a year at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust by installing modern energy generation equipment and completing energy system upgrades at two hospitals.

University Hospital and the Hospital of St Cross will benefit from the energy-efficient solution, which will see carbon emissions cut by 4,125 tonnes a year.

The £6m scheme involves a CHP engine being integrated into the complex waste compound system at University Hospital, with comprehensive modifications to facilitate the new technology.

This will deliver a low-cost and low-carbon heat and power supply to the hospital under an energy performance contract (EPC) that guarantees the savings for 15 years.

The project also includes complete upgrades to the BMS system at the Hospital of St Cross and upgrading 2,000 lighting fittings to new efficient LED bulbs.

A considerate construction plan will be provided to avoid disturbance to hospital operation, and any disruption to University Hospital’s energy supply.

Under the contract, Vital Energi will provide operational and maintenance services for the CHP system for the next 15 years.

Steve Black, account director at Vital Energi, said: “This innovative solution is the first time Vital has integrated new energy generation equipment into a large PFI hospital.

“We had to assess the existing energy system and existing building to design a solution that would cater for the hospital’s needs without making any major modifications to the building’s infrastructure.”

The scheme is being delivered under the Carbon and Energy Fund (CEF) and is expected to be completed by March 2020.

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