Vital Energi has delivered five combined heat and power (CHP) engines to five hospitals in just five days.
When combined with other energy-efficiency measures, the recent installations will result in estimated financial savings of £44.6m over the course of their lifecycles.
In addition to the financial benefits, the new systems will have a positive environmental impact and are estimated to reduce harmful CO2 emissions by more than 200,000 tonnes.
Ian Whitelock, joint managing director of Vital Energi, said: “Delivering five engines in five days is a huge undertaking. Normally the lead time on an engine would be in the region of 26 weeks and in some instances to meet our clients’ funding deadlines, we reduced this time to six weeks. Due to the nature of funding in the NHS, it is often imperative to move quickly and at Vital Energi we have structured our organisation, and our supply chain, to be able to meet these challenges.
Many hospitals have an ageing energy infrastructure and we have shown that the opportunity is there to make huge reductions in carbon emissions and also financial savings, which can then be invested in patient care
“Many hospitals have an ageing energy infrastructure and we have shown that the opportunity is there to make huge reductions in carbon emissions and also financial savings, which can then be invested in patient care. The five projects promise to be real success stories for the NHS which will benefit their patients for decades to come.”
The CHP technology was installed at Leicester Royal Infirmary, Glenfield Hospital in Leicester, York Hospital, Cheltenham General Hospital, and Northampton General Hospital. Three of these trusts - York, Northampton and Gloucestershire - have entered into long-term Energy Performance Contracts with Vital Energi, which have guaranteed the financial savings and carbon reduction figures over the course of the projects’ lifecycles, which range between 15-18 years.
When fully operational, the five engines will represent more than 6.8MWe output.