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 lines, and this creates costs that are eventually passed onto hospitals as the consumers.