ENERGY SYSTEMS
Why CHP is the future of powering patient care
In October 2020, the NHS announced its plan to become the world’s first carbon-neutral national healthcare system. As the NHS moves towards net zero emissions, hospitals and other healthcare facilities are looking for ways to deliver power generation in an efficient, environmentally-friendly, and cost-effective way. One option is combined heat and power (CHP). Here Scott Tamplin, Sales manager for Diesel and Gas Products at energy and transportation expert, Finning UK & Ireland, explains why CHP could be the future of powering patient care.
Hospitals are critical facilities that require electricity and heating 24/7, 365 days a year. Because consumption is constant, and demand is high, there is concern among NHS Trusts and the Government around the sustainability of hospitals. In 2019, it was estimated that NHS England produced 5.4 per cent of the UK’s greenhouse gases, according to a study by Health Care Without Harm. Like many businesses and consumers, hospitals traditionally receive power from the National Grid using conventional transmission. However, relying entirely on the network introduces risks – when the grid reaches capacity, trips, fluctuations, and even outages, can occur. The transmission process is also inefficient, because energy is lost along the power
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lines, and this creates costs that are eventually passed onto hospitals as the consumers.
Using conventional boilers for heating is also inefficient, because they release heated gases into the atmosphere via the flue. While gas boilers can operate at efficiencies of up to 90 per cent, large coal, gas, or oil plants will only convert 30 to 40 per cent of input energy into electricity, according to Rural Energy.
A compelling case
As NHS Trusts and hospital management teams work to improve efficiency and become carbon-neutral, one more efficient option is generating power on site using a CHP system. This technology involves using a fuel, such as natural gas,
The efficiency savings alone are a compelling reason for hospitals to install a CHP system, although they offer additional benefits too
to generate power on site, separate from the National Grid. Meanwhile, waste heat produced during power generation is harvested and reused, to heat water and create steam for heating. The efficiency savings alone are a compelling reason for hospitals to install a CHP system, although they offer additional benefits too.
CHP in hospitals A CHP system prior to having its engine rebuilt.
CHP, or cogeneration, involves generating power on site, capturing waste heat from the generator’s exhaust or engine jacket water, and then reusing it so that it can be used elsewhere on site. The main components in a basic configuration are a reciprocating generator set, a prime mover that drives the generator, and heat recovery units that capture usable heat from the engine. These systems can be synchronised with power from the grid, reducing the hospital’s dependency on it. CHP has been used to generate power domestically and ‘behind the meter’ in industrial, utility, and large commercial applications for decades, but is now becoming more popular in healthcare and hospitals. One of its main benefits is providing continuity – hospitals are on the frontline, and, during an outage, CHP systems can step in to keep the site running. While integrating a new CHP system is not a substitute for installing and maintaining emergency standby generators, it can supplement these machines by providing extra capacity. Energy usage in hospitals is broad, and takes several forms. For example, electricity powers the lighting, medical, and surgical equipment, hot water is needed for cleaning, heating, and other general uses, steam is used to sterilise equipment, and cooling is required for refrigeration, freezing, and air- conditioning. Integrating a CHP system can help hospitals produce energy for these different applications with improved efficiency, and with minimal environmental impact.
October 2021 Health Estate Journal 43
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