RENEWABLE ENERGY
utility is struggling to keep up. There are also some unique circumstances on this particular site that make you even more vulnerable in a way to energy disruptions. So, the project really started as a way to figure out how we can ensure reliable energy to the site – and, if possible – how can we do it in a way that reduces costs? As we worked on the project and examined different alternatives, this notion that we could do it with a renewable energy microgrid emerged as the preferable solution for a range of reasons. A renewable energy microgrid
represents a decentralised electricity system connected to the main power grid, but capable of operating independently in ‘island mode’ when necessary. Valley Children’s microgrid is a sophisticated integration of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, fuel cells, and energy storage, amounting to a $30.5 m investment. This set-up is projected to meet 80% of the hospital’s peak electrical use needs, while reducing emissions by 50.5% from the baseline. The project received a substantial
boost with the enactment of the US Government’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). This legislation enabled Valley Children’s to recover nearly half of its initial investment through investment tax credits. By complying with the Act’s requirements on domestic content and global warming potential, Valley Children’s project set a new benchmark in the non-profit healthcare sector, spurring infrastructural improvements that prioritise resilience and operational efficiency.
Environmental commitment and leadership Valley Children’s Healthcare and Mazzetti were early signatories of the US White House/Health and Human Services (HHS) Health Sector Climate Pledge. This commitment involves reducing emissions by 50% by 2030, and achieving Net Zero emissions by 2050. Achieving these goals will effectively eliminate the hospital’s carbon footprint and its adverse impact on air quality. The success of Valley Children’s energy
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A rendered image of the solar field at Valley Children’s Hospital in Central California.
resilience programme is poised to serve as a model for other Health and Human Services Climate Pledge signatories, positioning the hospital as a leader in sustainable healthcare. Mazzetti’s strategic partnership and technical advisory roles are integral to achieving the vision of a greener, more resilient healthcare future. Enhancing the project’s scope, Valley
Children’s Healthcare secured a significant grant from the US Department of Energy (DOE), and additional funding from the California Energy Commission (CEC). This financial support is earmarked for long- duration energy storage demonstrations, enhancing clean energy storage capabilities, and ensuring continuous patient care during power disruptions. With Mazzetti providing strategic
counsel and engineering expertise, and Faraday Microgrids handling construction, the project is set to make a substantial impact on the local community and the healthcare industry at large. Upon
completion, Valley Children’s will operate the largest renewable energy microgrid in a US hospital, backed by $30 m from the DOE and $25 m from the CEC.
At the heart of Valley Children’s sustainability plan is our kids. Valley Children’s must ensure that we always have a source of energy to care for them and their families under any circumstance or through any disruption…
Todd Suntrapak, President and CEO of Valley Children’s 36 Health Estate Journal February 2024
Ensuring children’s welfare Todd Suntrapak, President and CEO of Valley Children’s, underlined the project’s core objective: the welfare of children. He stressed the hospital’s duty to provide uninterrupted energy in all conditions, and to enhance the communities where children live. He said: “At the heart of Valley Children’s sustainability plan is our kids. Valley Children’s must ensure that we always have a source of energy to care for them and their families under any circumstance, or through any disruption, – and we have a responsibility to improve the communities where our children live, learn, and play. The Department of Energy grant represents a transformative moment for Valley Children’s and for our communities, and places us at the forefront of creating safe, effective, and reliable power systems for hospitals here and around the world.”
Mazzetti’s role in healthcare infrastructure evolution Mazzetti’s contributions transcend this project. It has been instrumental in advancing the National Electric Code (NFPA 70) to enable cleaner, more efficient power systems in healthcare facilities. Its efforts led to a categorical waiver by CMS, permitting the use of renewable energy microgrids as an alternative to diesel generators for emergency back-up power. The renewable
Courtesy Valley Children’s Hospital
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