A combined heat and power plant (CHP) is helping to run the first road-going electric van operated by the Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust.
The CHP is managed by Dalkia and is supporting the zero-emissions vehicle, which was launched in the North West in March.
It is used to transport lab and blood samples between the Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen hospitals and entirely relies 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 its overall carbon footprint. We look forward to working with the trust going forward.”
The trust’s energy manager, Andy Johnson, added: “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. The van is charged using electricity onsite and we expect this zero carbon vehicle will be the start of a wider initiative.”
- Companies:
- Dalkia plc
- Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospital
- Broadgreen Hospital
