St James’s Hospital has signed a new Energy Performance Contract (EPC) with Veolia in partnership with the Carbon and Energy Fund Ireland (CEFI).
Under the EPC agreement, Veolia will install and operate energy efficient equipment in the hospital. The 20-year contract to operate and maintain the equipment was awarded to Veolia after a competitive public tendering process and the EPC implementation is the largest of its kind in Irish healthcare to date.
The contract will deliver €26 million in guaranteed energy and operational savings. The hospital’s carbon footprint will be reduced by approximately 118,380 tonnes, cutting electrical consumption by 26% per annum. The new energy efficient equipment will also reduce the dependency on the Dublin 8 electrical grid and places the hospital in an optimum position to reach its 2030 climate targets.
The contract will include the replacement of water boilers, lighting and air conditioning units and will provide combined heat and power (CHP) solutions for the hospital.
€26 million in guaranteed savings
CO2 reduced by 118,380 tonnes
The new Energy Centre containing a 2MWe combined heat and power (CHP) plant which will generate around 13GWh of low carbon electricity a year and cut carbon emissions by 2,574 tonnes. To maximise heat efficiency 7.5 MWth of new hot water, steam boilers and clean steam generators will meet the hot water, steam and sterilisation demand, and a new campus-wide Building Management System will maximise energy efficiency across all of the buildings and provide centralised monitoring.
Other upgrades include the installation of energy efficient LED lighting across the campus, new theatre air handling units, air conditioning and high efficiency pumps. The energy saving measures will be guaranteed by Veolia who will also provide a comprehensive maintenance service for the duration of the 20-year contract.
The installation works commenced in July 2020 and will be completed by December 2021.
The project will be externally funded by the Ireland Energy Efficiency Fund (IEEF), and ethical Irish pension fund investors, and managed by Sustainable Development Capital LLP. IEEF’s involvement allows for the transfer of investment risk and the delivery of guaranteed energy savings with demonstrable environmental and carbon savings for the hospital.
