HEALTH SECTOR NEWS
Final coal-heated UK hospital completes switch to clean energy
A landmark decarbonisation programme at Nottingham City Hospital has brought coal-fired heating to an end across the NHS estate. The work was delivered by Vital
Energi, which has completed a two- phase, £34.8m project to replace the hospital’s ageing coal and gas boiler infrastructure with a new energy centre, air source heat pumps, solar PV panels, and over 6,600 LED lighting fittings.
A second phase added a 400kW
air source heat pump system serving the Maternity and Urology departments, a 160kW waste heat recovery water source heat pump, and a full sitewide Building Management System (BMS) upgrade integrating all systems under a single, modernised controls platform. Both phases were funded through
the Government’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS), administered by Salix Finance. Across both phases of the programme, the project has delivered carbon savings of 16,023 tonnes.
All works were carried out in a fully operational acute hospital. The managed transition from the old coal-fired boiler house to the new energy centre – cutting and restoring the hospital’s primary heat source – required precise planning at every stage. Demolition works included two chimney stacks. LED upgrades were installed across live wards and clinical areas, and plant room work was scheduled out of hours with each task timed to ensure no system was offline longer than could be safely permitted. John Runniff, account development
WRAS marks five years as an independent body
The Water Regulations Approval Scheme (WRAS) is marking five years since becoming an independent UK certification body for plumbing products and materials. Formerly part of Water Regs UK, WRAS certifies products and materials for compliance with the water regulations that protect drinking water quality – guarding against contamination and waste. Becoming independent in 2021
reinforced WRAS’ arm’s-length relationship with water companies and enabled WRAS to achieve UKAS accreditation to ISO/ IEC 17065 – the internationally recognised standard for product certification bodies. WRAS MD Julie Spinks said: “Becoming independent gave us the governance structure
to operate with complete transparency – it underpins everything we’ve achieved since. It has also allowed us to make changes, additions, and improvements to the service we
provide to our customers. “The team has grown, our digital infrastructure has been transformed, and the laboratory network now serves manufacturers around the world. Demand for WRAS approval is growing – from manufacturers demonstrating compliance to installers searching for compliant products – and we are now much better placed to meet those demands. “Our mission to protect public
health and safeguard the UK’s water supply hasn’t changed, but we’re working hard to make the scheme as efficient and accessible as possible.”
June 2026 Health Estate Journal 19
director at Vital Energi, said: “Nottingham City Hospital was the last hospital in the UK still burning coal, and that chapter is now closed. This was a multifaceted project which required the team to use their broad range of skills to complete. Delivering in a live acute hospital adds a layer of complexity that very few contractors are equipped for, and that expertise is something we’ve built over decades. “What makes this especially
satisfying is that the results speak for themselves. The savings have been independently verified and we derisked
our heating system both primarily plant and the heating distribution system and take the first steps for de-steaming the hospital, a key necessity to achieve the Trust’s Net Zero Carbon target. The hospital now has modern, resilient energy infrastructure built to last.” Alberto Jaume, programme manager of decarbonisation schemes at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, commented: “This landmark project was an important part of moving us away from relying on coal and gas energy and towards clean energy and our ambitious 2040 Net Zero Carbon Goal. “We are pleased with the vast
reduction of our City Hospital’s carbon footprint, and the cost savings that this decarbonisation has brought to the Trust.
“Most importantly, the decarbonisation of our City Hospital site and the investment in the behind- the-scenes management systems has enabled us to create more comfortable environments for our patients and staff, both today and for generations to come.”
Equipment procured for Trowbridge ICC opening
Completion of the procurement, delivery, and installation of equipment to Trowbridge Integrated Care Centre (TICC) has been carried out by MJ Medical. The 1350m2
facility will provide
a wide range of healthcare services to the Trowbridge community, including MIU, x-ray, outpatients, physiotherapy, podiatry, and maternity outpatient services. MJ Medical was responsible
for coordinating the specification, procurement, delivery, placement, and commissioning of group 2 and 3 equipment on behalf of TICC and in partnership with NHS Property Services and Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon & Wiltshire Integrated Care Board (BSW ICB). Following the final confirmation of the equipment lists and specifications, procurement and delivery was achieved in just under 12 weeks.
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