CARBON AND ENERGY REDUCTION


Renewable energy boost as heat pumps reduce carbon


Tim Rook, a Chartered Engineer, and the Chief Markets officer at UK heat pump manufacturer, Clade Engineering, discusses some of the key opportunities for renewable energy technologies to reduce carbon emissions and bring savings in the healthcare sector, with a particular focus on heat pump technology.


The NHS is the largest employer in the UK, with over 1.5 million staff, and two million volunteers. If the service is to achieve its world-first Net Zero goal, emissions from healthcare facilities must be reduced significantly more in the coming months. This makes the service an ideal candidate for further carbon footprint reduction via the deployment of renewable technologies, such as commercial heat pumps. The goal of the NHS is to achieve Net Zero emissions by 2040, while achieving an 80% decrease in emissions from 2028 to 2032 for the emissions it directly controls. Heat pumps are a low-carbon alternative


to fossil fuels which are classed as a renewable energy source. There is a set budget of carbon that we can discharge into the atmosphere – i.e. our carbon budget must be sustainable, and for the NHS to play its part in us meeting our Net Zero goals within the timescales set out by Government, hospitals and other healthcare facilities will need to continue to take whatever carbon reduction measures they can to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions. Significantly increasing the use of renewables technology such as heat pumps could play a big part.


Advantages of renewable energy to healthcare providers Hospital energy efficiency improvements benefit the NHS and the communities they serve in a variety of ways – including better health and wellbeing, financial savings, and reduced emissions. The £635 m Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, which opened in October 2022 for the public sector, takes an enormous leap towards a greener NHS. The scheme aids public institutions, including NHS hospitals, in making investments to boost the growth of low-carbon heating and energy. The investment will allow for the installation and use alternative energy sources, such as heat pumps and LED lighting – a major step forward towards reaching Net Zero


56 Health Estate Journal May 2023


targets using green energy sources. The objective is straightforward: to support energy resilience while assisting in the UK’s carbon reduction goals. No matter the size of the premises, there is a renewable energy source solution that will help to decarbonise the NHS.


A range of benefits Let’s look at the key advantages for NHS Trusts, hospitals, and healthcare providers: 1 Sources such as solar, wind, and geothermal power can provide significant cost savings over traditional energy sources like fossil fuels. By generating their own energy, healthcare providers can reduce their reliance on the grid, and avoid rising energy costs.


2 Natural gas is a fossil fuel, and burning it releases greenhouse gases, which contribute to climate change. The healthcare sector is a significant contributor to carbon emissions, and the NHS has a responsibility to reduce its


carbon footprint and help mitigate the effects of climate change.


3 Renewable energy sources are cleaner and more sustainable than fossil fuels, which means they produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions and contribute less to climate change. By using green energy, healthcare providers can reduce their carbon footprint and show their commitment to sustainability.


4 Healthcare providers that use low carbon to zero carbon energy can benefit from a positive public image and reputation. Patients and the wider public are increasingly concerned about environmental issues, and are more likely to choose healthcare providers that show a commitment to sustainability.


5 By generating their own energy, healthcare providers can, again, reduce their dependence on the grid and improve their energy security. This can be important during times of disruption, such as power outages or natural


Clade says it can design, deliver, install, and maintain CO2 range of commercial use cases’.


heat pumps ‘for a wide


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