A combined heat and power plant (CHP) is providing electricity to run the NHS’s first road-going electric van at the Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust.
The zero-emission electrical vehicle is the first in the NHS and is part of the hospital trust’s efforts to reduce its carbon footprint in conjunction with CHP operator, Dalkia.
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 needed is generated by the hospital’s own 5.3MWe CHP plant, supported by boilers and standby generators, which produce all steam, hot water and electricity for the hospital.
The trust’s energy manager, Andy Johnson, said: “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.”
Mike Hooper, regional director at Dalkia, dded: “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.”
- Companies:
- Dalkia plc
- Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospital
- Broadgreen Hospital
