Before the new energy centre was built all the heat for the RVI was provided from six boilers which, in some cases, were over 40 years old. Electricity was supplied from the mains with emergency supplies available from diesel generators. With all of this plant nearing the end of its useful life and the potential extensive redevelopment of the RVI site, the Trust was keen to provide for their future requirements by investing in new energy plant.
The Trust’s own engineers had analysed the longer term needs of the facilities and concluded that a combined heat and power (CHP) plant was required. By investing £7million through the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) Dalkia have provided design, construction, operation and maintenance of a modern energy efficient centre at the hospital.
The energy centre will ensure future energy provision through a 25 year energy management contract and includes combined heat and power (CHP) systems and boiler plant that supplies all the electricity and heat for the hospital. Included in the system is emergency electrical generation plant that can supply the hospital during breaks in mains and CHP supplies. The hospital will enjoy stable supplies of heating, hot water and electricity for the next 25 years and the use of CHP will yield energy cost savings and reduced emissions.. Use of the new energy centre gives the Hospital annual cost savings of £485,000 which can be directed to patient care.
Melanie Johnson MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Public Health, officially opened the new Energy Centre in 2003.
Benefits
Independent and stable energy supplies from dedicated energy centre
Full 24 hour technical support for 25 years
Annual savings of £485,000 after capital repayment
Reduction in annual CO2 emissions of 10,880 tonnes
100% electricity standby capacity
Export of surplus electricity to other sites
Capacity for “Newcastle Strategic Review” developments
