RESILIENCE AND PREPAREDNESS
Above: In Estonia, ABB recently supported Haapsalu and Narva hospitals in implementing new DPA UPS infrastructure, delivering back-up systems within 12 weeks tested for safety and operability in Switzerland prior to deployment.
Above right: The author says: “From design to daily operation, hospitals operate under unique constraints.”
hospital; however, it remains unclear whether all primary care facilities nationwide were able to do the same. Fortunately, the power in both countries was restored later in the evening, but these regional events highlight the interdependencies of digital, mechanical, and human systems in hospital infrastructure, and how they are ultimately underpinned by the health of their power systems. If power is unstable, hospitals can no longer function with the precision and speed required by today’s clinical expectations. From design to daily operation, hospitals operate under unique constraints. Each ward or facility is an ecosystem of diverse and energy-intensive systems. A study published in Energy and Buildings in 2021 showed that hospitals of various sizes could consume between ~3,900,000 kWh (small), ~6,500,000 kWh (medium), and ~11,200,000 kWh (large) per year.1 During the COVID pandemic, these numbers
skyrocketed due to the increased use of specialised infection control apparatus – specifically negative pressure (NP) treatment rooms and xenon pulsed ultraviolet (XP-UV) equipment. Diagnostic imaging equipment like MRIs or CT scanners draws vast amounts of power per session. Factor in sterilisation facilities, robotic- assisted surgeries, and a future of AI-powered diagnostics, and the scale of the challenge comes into focus.
Digital transformation and ‘smart’ hospital systems ‘bring tremendous quality- of-life value to patients and staff’, points out ABB, ‘but they also increase risk’.
Not a complete story Hospital energy use is often talked about in terms of kWh- per-bed: dividing the total energy use straightforwardly by the number of occupants. This figure does not tell a complete story; it does not show us which technologies are drawing the most power, and which would need the most support from back-up systems like circuit breakers
and uninterruptible power supply in the event of a crisis. Separate from the specialised equipment already mentioned, HVAC alone can account for up to 50% of a hospital’s total energy demand. The importance of patient comfort, from a temperature perspective, is the first thing we tend to think of. However, it goes beyond room- to-room climatic control: HVAC systems help to control the spread of infections by keeping a regular flow of fresh air, thereby containing airborne pathogens. Further studies have shown that faulty HVAC systems are linked to outbreaks.2 The electrification of hospital transport is another
growing source of power demand, and a risk that needs to be managed. A Freedom of Information request in 2021 revealed that around half (51%) of NHS Trusts had installed electric vehicle charging infrastructure on their sites for staff, patients, and the wider community to use. A further 43% were either planning to install charging facilities on site within the next five years, or were in early stage planning around how best to integrate such capabilities. As we approach that five-year mark, we’ve seen many
hospitals stick to their word. The government also pledged a £63 m EV investment package in July 2025, £8 m of which is set aside for 62 NHS Trusts and around 224 sites. The consequences of charger downtime for this future fleet of electrified ambulances are clear: slower emergency response, smaller catchment areas, and loss of public trust. Safeguards to providing this power must be in place.
Pledging to manage volatility Environmental impacts are no less pressing. According to ABB, the global healthcare sector, if considered a nation, would be the world’s fifth-largest emitter of greenhouse gases. The NHS, as the largest public sector emitter in the UK, has committed to delivering Net Zero carbon patient care by 2045. Innovation cannot, however, come at the expense of reliability. The energy transition is adding further volatility to the grid. Renewable sources like wind and solar must be integrated to enable this transition, but they are intermittent by nature, and healthcare facilities need ways to safeguard against ‘brownouts’ – temporary reductions in voltage which cause appliances to falter rather than completely switch off. Meeting Net Zero imperatives must not undercut the constancy on which effective healthcare relies. The UK Government’s clean energy company, Great British Energy, laid out its first major initiative in March 2025: a £180 m spend on installing rooftop solar panels on approximately 200 NHS sites, including hospitals, and
82 Health Estate Journal September 2025
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