North-east hospitals could cut their carbon emissions by around 16% under plans being considered by NHS Grampian today.
The plans aim to make Aberdeen’s Foresterhill Campus and Cornhill Hospital and Elgin’s Dr Gray’s Hospital more energy efficient.
There are also proposals to replace two 20-year-old boilers running on heavy fuel oil (HFO) at Woodend Hospital with gas units.
The boilers – which provide steam for the hospital and its laundry – cost £900,000 annually to run.
Similar boilers at Dr Gray’s will also be replaced.
A report going before NHS Grampian today states that the gas boilers would be “significantly cheaper” to run with a reliable fuel supply available in the UK.
The cost of replacing the boilers is estimated at £1.52million, with savings of £454,000 per year.
Vital Energi has been named as the preferred bidders for the projects at Foresterhill, Cornhill and Dr Gray’s.
The plans include the creation of a heat and power energy link between Foresterhill campus and Cornhill Hospital.
NHS Grampian hope the plans will contribute to a reduction in greenhouse gases and emissions in the region.
Aberdeen Royal Infirmary is the third highest energy consumption hospital in Scotland, while the energy consumed at both Aberdeen Maternity Hospital and Dr Gray’s is in excess of the Scottish national average.
