Ealing Hospital switches to cleaner energy
A £5.9m project to reduce carbon emissions and improve energy resilience is underway at Ealing Hospital. The work is expected to cut carbon emissions by around 900 tonnes per year and deliver financial saving of over £260K per year.
The Trust is working with Vital Energi to design and install the major infrastructure upgrade needed to reduce emissions. Jack Tasker, Account Manager at Vital Energi, said: “This project not only supports the Trust's journey to net zero, but also enhances energy resilience and patient comfort, two critical factors in a healthcare setting. We are integrating advanced technologies like heat pumps, solar photovoltaic panels and smart monitoring at Ealing Hospital. This will create a much more sustainable and efficient environment for staff, patients, and visitors.”
The project is being funded through the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, which is run by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. The delivery and administrative body for the scheme is Salix.
Director of public sector decarbonisation at Salix, Ian Rodger, said: “The Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme funding plays a vital role in meeting the NHS net zero targets. Investment isn't just about cutting carbon - it's about creating healthier, more comfortable and energy-efficient buildings that support patient recovery and provide better spaces for staff to work and care.”
The Carbon and Energy Fund Framework (CEF) is a specialised procurement framework that supports complex energy upgrades across the public sector. CEF project manager Will Fairclough said: “The project work at Ealing includes crucial resilience upgrade works for the hospital, which will significantly improve its energy efficiency. The project team at Salix and Vital Energi are bringing innovation to Ealing Hospital and look forward to integrating future technologies into the Trust's estate.”
A 'groundbreaking' event was held on the 20 March to formally mark the start of works. Among those present was Cllr Paul Driscoll, Ealing Council's Cabinet Member for Climate Action. Cllr Driscoll added: “We are committed to making Ealing a carbon neutral borough by 2030. I am therefore delighted to learn of the decarbonising work underway at Ealing Hospital, which will make a significant contribution to our commitments. The climate crisis is one of the defining issues of our time and our local NHS Trust is demonstrating that we all need to play our part.”
Also present was Deirdre Costigan, MP for Ealing Southall, who said: “It's brilliant to see £5.9 million of Government investment going into Ealing Hospital. With new solar panels and an energy saving heat pump system, we're cutting carbon emissions and saving public money. Lower energy bills for our hospitals mean better value for taxpayers and a cleaner, more efficient NHS - a win for everyone in Ealing Southall.”
Mark Titcomb, Managing Director of Ealing Hospital added: “We're taking this action to make our hospitals and services more sustainable because climate change is real threat affecting healthcare. By reducing our carbon footprint now, we're protecting patient care today and preparing for the challenges of tomorrow.”
The decarbonisation works at Ealing Hospital are expected to be completed by April 2027.