A combined heat and power plant (CHP) managed by Dalkia is the efficient source of electricity behind powering the first road-going electric van at the Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust.
With the launch of the NHS’s first zero-emission electrical van in the North West in March 2013, the Trust has taken a further step towards a greener future. The van, which is used to transport lab and blood samples between Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen Hospital, relies entirely on electrical power rather than highly polluting fossil fuels. It can travel approximately 100 miles before it needs recharging at the Royal Liverpool Hospital’s charging point.
The low carbon electricity is generated by the hospital’s own 5.3MWe CHP plant supported by boilers and standby generators. A partner since 1995, Dalkia provides the design, installation, operation and maintenance of the plant, which produces all steam, hot water and electricity for the hospital.
Mike Hooper, Regional Director at Dalkia, said: “This is an excellent initiative and a good way of further enhancing the use of the low carbon electricity generated by the hospital’s CHP power plant. It’s a big commitment for Dalkia to help the Trust reduce their overall carbon footprint.”
The Trust’s Energy Manager, Andy Johnson, is confident that the electric van is a great step forward in supporting better sustainability and carbon reduction in the NHS, as well as helping to improve local air quality. He says: “The van is charged using electricity onsite and we expect this zero carbon vehicle will be the start of a wider initiative.”