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BSEE
In a move to enhance its sustainability credentials and become more energy efficient, NHS Scotland’s high security State Hospital at Carstairs has converted part of its energy supply from gas oil to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) from Flogas. The hospital has experienced major savings as a result. Since switching they have cut their carbon footprint by an estimated 17% and reduced energy costs by approximately 26%.
RENEWABLES
The State Hospital cuts carbon and costs by switching from oil to LPG
The State Hospital
The State Hospital is the only high security psychiatric hospital covering Scotland and Northern Ireland. Employing around 650 staff, the hospital is located in Lanarkshire in central Scotland, and is one of four high secure hospitals in the UK. Its main aim is to rehabilitate patients, ensuring safe transfer to appropriate lower levels of security. Although The State Hospital shares the same values, aims and
challenges as the rest of the NHS in Scotland, it is unique because it has the dual responsibility of caring for very ill, detained patients as well as protecting them, the public and staff from harm.
www.tsh.scot.nhs.uk
covering Scotland and Northern Ireland. Its 60-acre campus has a maximum of 144 beds for male patients. Patient
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accommodation takes the form of four hubs, each comprising three 12-bedded wards, domestic kitchens, and staff offices. All patient bedrooms have en-suite facilities. The rural hospital, which is not connected to the mains gas grid, has its own district heating system that centrally provides heating, hot water and gas for cooking to each of the buildings. Originally powering this system was an 840kW biomass boiler, supported by two oil and two LPG burners. However, funding from the Scottish Government’s Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme (LCITP) has allowed The State Hospital to move away from oil and find a more futureproof energy solution – one that enables the hospital to become more sustainable, enhance operational efficiencies and cut costs. In recognising that switching from oil to LPG would go a long way in helping to meet carbon reduction targets, a spokesperson for the Estates Department at The State Hospital said: “Although we had a renewable biomass boiler as our
ased in South
Lanarkshire, central Scotland, The State Hospital is the only high security
psychiatric hospital
primary heat source, we were still using a lot of oil to meet the hospital’s year-round high energy needs. By converting our oil burners to more energy efficient LPG, we are now saving anywhere between 121 and 277 tonnes of carbon a year. We are delighted that our air quality has also improved. Because LPG emits far fewer pollutants, such as nitrous oxide (NOx), sulphur oxide (SOx) and particulate matter (PM), we have been able to meet MCPD legislation years ahead of schedule. “The switch has also had a major impact on our bottom line; our energy costs have been cut by a massive 26% and maintenance costs have also reduced. This is because oil is typically very messy, and it can take a lot of time and energy to maintain the system and clean fluids. As LPG is a much cleaner fuel, this is no longer an issue, and time has been freed up for the team to focus on other maintenance work.”
Flogas provided a full turnkey solution for The State Hospital with its energy experts designing, installing and commissioning a bespoke LPG system to meet specified energy needs. This custom-built LPG system for The State Hospital includes six 4000 litre tanks, mounded above ground, and neatly tucked away in a location outside of the main perimeter fence.
Installing a fuel source externally off site was a key requirement for the high security facility. Previously the hospital was bringing in 50,000 litres of oil on site every week, which not only took up valuable space, but increased site traffic. Now the tanks are accessible 24/7, and feature auto ordering technology, so Flogas can always keep them topped up.
The Estates Department spokesperson added: “The installation was incredibly straight
forward, and the Flogas team managed it all against a very tight deadline. From initial consultation through to the actual installation process, Flogas met all our expectations and communication was excellent, with the Flogas team adapting to meet our specific requirements along the way.” Gary Jenkins, Chief Executive of The State Hospital said: “The Board is committed to sustainable development and takes its environmental responsibilities seriously. Switching from oil to LPG has brought significant, welcome cost and carbon savings to the hospital. We have a well-established Sustainability Action Plan and Carbon Management Programme which ensures sustainability and energy efficiency through minimising environmental impacts and ensuring the protection of environmental resources in line with national targets.”
Flogas Britain Ltd
As ‘Experts in Energy’, Flogas has more than 35 years’ experience in providing tailored energy solutions to commercial, industrial and domestic customers across the UK. From Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) to propane enrichment of biomethane – the company delivers high-performance, reliable, cost-effective energy solutions to suit customers' exact needs.
www.flogas.co.uk/business 32 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER JULY 2021 Read the latest at:
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