Veolia optimises energy use for one of biggest UK hospital trusts

Published: 7-May-2020

Energy upgrades at Lincolnshire hospitals will target financial efficiencies of £1.4m a year

Specialist energy teams from Veolia have extended the services they provide to United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust (ULHT), one of the biggest acute hospital trusts in England.

With the aim of lowering costs and cutting carbon emissions across three key hospitals serving a population of around 736,700 people, the services will be delivered under a new energy performance contract (EPC).

By implementing a wide-ranging programme, the contract will reduce carbon emissions by 7712 tonnes a year, provide £1.4m of financial efficiencies, help build long-term energy resilience, and make lasting enhancements to the patient care environment.

Backed by a £4m investment, the EPC will upgrade energy provision at Lincoln County Hospital, Pilgrim Hospital in Boston, and Grantham and District Hospital.

Measures will include installing nearly 13,000 LED light fittings, a new combined heat and power plant, boiler enhancements, conversion of the steam system to a low-temperature hot water network, new electrical infrastructure upgrades and control systems for the facilities, which cover 74,174sq m.

The new plant will be operated and maintained by Veolia's engineering teams for 15 years, with investment payback achieved in just over three years.

The new works will build on the reductions achieved by Veolia at Lincoln Hospital, where around 64,000 tonnes of CO2 has been saved since 2004, and include the successful ‘90k in 90 days’ initiative, a three-month challenge to engage staff to make regular, small, money-saving changes.

This resulted in the trust cutting its overall carbon footprint by 13% between 2009-2015 against a national average of 10%.

Commenting on the contract, Gavin Graveson, executive vice-president of Veolia UK & Ireland, said: “We look forward to continuing our work with the United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust and helping it to achieve its carbon reduction targets.

“The new measures will extend its efficiency and sustainability, and make a real difference to the patient care facilities.

“At over £1m a year. the savings will also make a big difference to the trusts budget."

Claire Hall, associate director of strategic business planning at the trust, added: “Sustainability, energy efficiency, and carbon reduction are at the heart of our management policy.

“We have already made great strides in reducing our carbon footprint, but by upgrading and investing in sustainable technologies, it’s our ambition to reduce this by 28% by 2021.”

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