RENEWABLE ENERGY
Renewable energy microgrid for US paediatric hospital
In this article, Walt Vernon, CEO of global engineering design and consulting firm, Mazzetti, and 2nd Vice-President of the IFHE, reports on work being undertaken at Valley Children’s Hospital in Central California which should see it become the US’s first Net Zero paediatric hospital campus, with contributions from the hospital’s Vice-President of Innovation, Ratan Milevoj.
Valley Children’s Healthcare, a pre- eminent paediatric care provider in Central California, is on a pioneering path to become the first Net Zero paediatric hospital campus in the United States. This ambitious project, a collaboration with Mazzetti, aims to establish the largest paediatric healthcare renewable energy microgrid in the country, marking a significant stride towards sustainable healthcare. The genesis of this groundbreaking
initiative was driven by the need for creating resilience with the hospital’s ageing infrastructure, mitigating the risks associated with utility-level power outages due to fires in the region, and achieving energy independence. This was coupled with an intent to curtail operational costs. The collaboration between Valley Children’s and Mazzetti led to the development of an Energy Strategy, addressing both current and future energy requirements. The plan culminated in the selection of a microgrid system that balanced resilience with sustainability, financial viability, and scalability.
Commitment to reliable services Ratan Milevoj, Vice-President of Innovation at Valley Children’s Hospital, said: “This
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Valley Children’s serves some of the most vulnerable children and young adults, and we see first-hand the devastating impact that extreme weather events such as wildfires, drought, and bad air quality, have had across the region
Ratan Milevoj, Vice-President of Innovation at Valley Children’s Hospital
Energy Strategy is grounded in our commitment to providing uninterrupted and reliable healthcare services to our paediatric patients. Valley Children’s serves some of the most vulnerable children and young adults, and we see first-hand the devastating impact that extreme weather events such as wildfires, drought, and bad air quality, have had across the region. By bolstering our energy resiliency, we can ensure that critical medical operations remain functional even during adverse events such as power outages, contributing to the overall wellbeing of the children in our care. This effort extends beyond our immediate patient care, and aligns with our mission to create a healthier environment for the communities we serve.”
Dedicated sub-station The hospital primarily relies on power from a dedicated sub-station, installed around 1994. However, this sub-station is half way through its useful life, and represents a single point of failure. In emergency situations, the hospital turns to diesel generators for back-up power. The unique vulnerabilities of the hospital site to energy disruptions necessitated an energy solution that was not only reliable and cost-effective, but also environmentally responsible. The renewable energy microgrid emerged as the ideal solution, aligning with these objectives. This project really began as an attempt to improve the energy resilience of this site. It’s a fast- growing community where the energy demands are rising rapidly. The local
Valley Children’s Hospital is aiming to bolster its energy resiliency, to ensure continuing operation even during adverse events.
February 2024 Health Estate Journal 35
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