We are actively supporting the NHS decarbonisation programme and delivering lower cost energy for the healthcare sector.
Delivering energy management to hospitals since 1938, Veolia currently provides services that cover around 43,000 UK hospital beds and support the energy requirements for around 8.1 million inpatients each year, annually saving over 120,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions.
Veolia cuts carbon and energy costs for Eastbourne District General Hospital
Healthcare buildings are energy hungry and energy supplied to the UK’s hospitals has become increasingly expensive which is why Veolia’s “Building a Zero Carbon Future” programme offers innovative solutions. A secure energy supply is essential to maintain a modern patient care environment for the hospital which has 457 beds and treats more than 470,000 patients per year. With energy consumption in hospitals growing steadily, the access to reliable and clean energy is important to ensure the delivery of essential health care services for disease prevention and treatment.
As the NHS is funded mainly through tax payers money, funding is limited. To meet this energy demand and achieve carbon and energy cost savings, we manage projects covering the design, delivery, and installation of a range of energy upgrades. These will guarantee the hospital meets the NHS carbon reduction targets for 2030 and is supported by a 24/7 operations and maintenance contract. The energy plant upgrades include desteaming the site, solar arrays giving a of 1.1MWp renewable electricity, improved ventilation systems, and a dual stage heat pump system to supply 3.2 MWth of low carbon heat with N+1 redundancy that gives system availability in the event of component failure. To ensure the heat is efficiently used, the project covers the fitting of insulated roofing, replacing older single glazed windows with high efficiency double glazing, and insulating cladding, along with insulated roofing.
Achieving big energy and carbon savings for Royal Berkshire Hospital
Veolia is now increasing energy savings at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading following a 15 year extension to the existing contract. Royal Berkshire Hospital provides acute hospital services for over 500,000 people across Reading. To meet NHS targets of reducing its carbon footprint 80% by 2032, and becoming zero carbon by 2040, the hospital needed to reduce energy use, while guaranteeing stable supplies of heat, electricity and hot water.
We worked closely with the hospital’s team to convert the site from steam to a Low Temperature Hot Water (LTHW) system to make big operational efficiencies. The system, installed in ten plant rooms across the site, consists of 3 LTHW hydrogen-ready boilers and associated 44 LTHW heat exchangers. We updated the hospital’s combined heat and power (CHP) heat rejection and recovery system, by replacing the steam waste heater boiler with a LTHW exhaust gas exchanger. The £8 million project is delivering immediate carbon savings. One significant improvement is a closed loop water system requiring minimal top up, seeing a reduction of around 17,900m of raw water used annually by the old steam system.
Helping Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust save money and cut carbon emissions
Veolia works with Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust to save money and cut their carbon emissions. By delivering a 20 year Energy Performance Contract (EPC) Veolia will achieve annual savings of over £1 million by implementing a wide range of improvements at the 500 bed Rotherham Hospital. The Trust's commitment to maintaining a modern patient care environment for the 430,000 patients seen annually, requires a secure, reliable, and cost-efficient energy supply. To achieve this goal whilst also reducing the carbon footprint, the Trust has embarked on an ambitious project that covers the design, delivery, installation, commissioning, and operation of a combined heat and power plant, replacement of seven 40-year-old boilers, and installation of a chiller plant for effective air conditioning.
This includes upgrading the lighting system to take advantage of the latest low-energy and LED technology. The installation of 7000 new fittings will not only improve lighting levels but also have a positive impact on patient treatment and outcomes. In addition to these measures, the project will also include insulation of pipes and valves and the installation of a battery energy storage system to further reduce energy consumption. Veolia, a leading provider of energy and waste management services, will guarantee these energy-saving measures and provide a comprehensive 20-year maintenance service. This partnership will ensure that the Trust continues to provide high-quality patient care while also reducing its environmental impact.
By investing in energy-efficient technology and partnering with Veolia, the Trust is taking a proactive approach to reducing its carbon footprint and ensuring a sustainable future for its patients. This project is an excellent example of how organisations can balance their commitment to providing quality services with their responsibility to protect the environment.