£4m Government grant to fund energy conservation work at Hospital of St Cross

More than £4 million is to be invested on a host of energy-saving measures at the Hospital of St Cross, Rugby, thanks to a major Government grant.

As well as improving air quality and making the Barby Road site more energy efficient, the improvements will lead to financial savings that can be pumped back into patient care.

As part of its Green Plan, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) NHS Trust has secured funding from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) as part of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS), delivered by Salix Finance.

The Trust will install low carbon heating solutions to replace fossil fuel fired equipment as part of its aim to reach net zero by 2040. The work, due to start later this summer, will take 12 months to complete, with UHCW NHS Trust also investing more than £62,000.

Professor Andy Hardy, Chief Executive Officer at UHCW NHS Trust, said: “It is terrific news to hear our application has been successful and we can press ahead with this vital work.

“Our new Organisational Strategy sets out our commitment to playing a positive and sustainable contribution to the local economy, and this will build on other green developments already completed around the Trust’s estate.

“Not only will it assist in delivering our Green Plan, this work will also provide a positive financial saving that can be reinvested in patient care.

“We are very proud of our hospital at Rugby and the staff that work there, so we look forward to making these improvements.”

Plans include installing a 200KW air source heat pump, thermal insulation measures and the removal of a fossil fuel-fired plant.

To enable site-wide utilisation of heat from the air source heat pump, the work will include the installation of a district heating network to interconnect the heating loads of the three areas of the site currently served by three separate energy centres.

This will reduce maintenance costs associated with gas-fired boilers and enable connection of further low-carbon generation systems at a later date. It will also improve the energy supply resilience, essential for a hospital providing patient services 24/7.

A solar array of 1,250 solar panels will also be placed across roof spaces. Overall, the scheme will save more than 600 tonnes of carbon per year.

Salix Client Support Officer, Gbenga Adenaike, added: “We are delighted to be able to support University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust meet its net zero and energy saving goals. This project will have a positive impact on staff, visitors and patients.”

The money has been provided by BEIS as part of Phase Three of the PSDS, which is providing £1.425 billion of funding over the period 2022/2023 to 2024/2025.

Business and Energy Minister, Lord Callanan, said: “This funding will bring significant savings for taxpayers of well over half a billion pounds each year by making public buildings cheaper to run, heat and cool, whilst supporting economic growth and jobs.”

Vital Energi (Solutions), who have more than 30 years’ experience delivering a range of energy-related services, systems and solutions to clients, will carry out the work.

Managing Director, Ashley Malin, said: “We’re delighted to have successfully supported the Hospital of St Cross through their PSDS application and are looking forward to installing the multi-technology energy solution we’ve designed to accelerate the hospital’s journey to net zero and enhance their patient experience.”

The project adds to a wide variety of ‘green’ measures carried out by UHCW NHS Trust, such as purchasing 100 per cent renewable energy.

It is also the latest in a number of recent initiatives to upgrade facilities at the Hospital of St Cross, including the opening of a £1 million purpose-built Haematology and Oncology unit and new modular theatres to help treat more patients on elective waiting lists.