Wirral

Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has appointed UK energy management specialist ENER-G to reduce the carbon footprint at its two acute hospitals by using the Carbon and Energy Fund framework, funding, process and contract.

Under the £6.3m makeover, ENER-G will modernise the trust’s energy infrastructure at Arrowe Park and Clatterbridge Hospitals and help reduce their carbon footprint by almost a third.

ENER-G will design, build and operate new low carbon energy infrastructure consisting of energy efficient combined heat and power (CHP) systems that will enable the Trust to produce its own green energy supply.

The low carbon infrastructure proposed by ENER-G comprises natural gas CHPs, lighting, pumps, chillers, boiler plant and water saving measures and their installation is expected to be completed by the midway through this year.

Trust director of estates and facilities David Hounslea said: "This ambitious project will reduce the carbon footprint at our two acute hospitals by approximately 30% and will be financed through the energy savings we generate.

"Our specialist healthcare team has delivered integrated energy projects across more than 50 hospitals."

"This scheme builds on existing energy efficiency projects, which have already reduced the trust’s carbon dioxide emissions by 14,000t per year since 1999."

Using long-term funding made available through the Carbon and Energy Fund, the 15-year contract is guaranteed to deliver gross annual cost savings of £1.2m and to reduce the Trust’s carbon footprint by around 6,200t per year.

This is equivalent to the environmental benefit of removing 3,900 cars from the road, or the annual carbon absorption of 5,082 acres of forest.

ENER-G combined power managing director Alan Barlow said: "Our specialist healthcare team has delivered integrated energy projects across more than 50 hospitals.

"We are delighted to work with the Wirral team to help them achieve further improvements in energy efficiency.

"At a time of budgetary pressures and ambitious targets on carbon reduction, ENER-G can provide proven expertise in replacing dated plant with state-of-the art low and zero carbon alternatives that place no financial burden on hospitals or UK tax-payers."


Image: ENER-G is modernising the energy infrastructure, including CHP installations at Arrowe Park Hospital (pictured) and Clatterbridge Hospital. Photo: courtesy of ENER-G.