Vital Energi has been awarded a contract by South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to deliver a decarbonisation programme at James Cook University Hospital and Friarage Hospital.
The company will act as the Trust’s long-term energy services partner, operating and maintaining the new assets over a 15-year period.
“Our aim is to become the Trust’s long-term energy services partner. We will operate and maintain the assets over 15 years, helping to achieve net zero goals while delivering guaranteed cost savings and improved energy efficiency,” said John Runniff, Account Development Director at Vital Energi.
The multi-million-pound programme, funded through the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS), will see Vital Energi design, build, operate and maintain large-scale air source heat pump systems at both hospitals.
The project is expected to reduce carbon emissions at Friarage Hospital by more than 41% and exceed carbon reduction targets at James Cook University Hospital by 5%.
In addition to heat pump installations, the scheme includes rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, hydraulic optimisation works and upgrades to building management systems.
Work has already commenced, including the installation of a 1MW heat pump system at Friarage Hospital and a 3MW system at James Cook University Hospital, alongside the conversion of existing boiler infrastructure.
The contract also secures a 15-year operations and maintenance partnership, providing guaranteed performance and continuous improvement across both hospital sites.
Interim energy services are being provided to ensure uninterrupted energy supply while construction progresses.
The project further strengthens Vital Energi’s regional presence following the opening of its Newcastle office and forms part of the Carbon and Energy Fund (CEF) framework, under which Vital Energi holds preferred bidder status.
The CEF is a framework provider for the public sector that supports NHS organisations in upgrading ageing energy assets and infrastructure by delivering tailored net-zero energy schemes across healthcare estates.