Leisure, Healthcare & Communal Buildings

Cofely (GDF SUEZ) has completed the construction of a new energy centre at the Pilgrim Hospital in Boston, Lincolnshire, in a project that will significantly reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions. The work was carried out under a Public Private Partnership arrangement between Cofely and the United Lincolnshire Hospitals (ULH) NHS Trust.

The new centre is set to reduce the hospital’s carbon emissions by around 51%, which is a saving of 5,700 tonnes per annum. Cofely will operate and maintain the plant for a period of 15 years, with guaranteed year-on-year energy savings for the Trust across the site.

Cofely designed and constructed the energy centre, which incorporates a range of low carbon technologies, including combined heat and power (CHP) and a biomass boiler using renewable, locally sourced wood fuel.

Alongside the 2.9MW biomass boiler, the centre features a 526kW gas engine, a new heavy fuel oil packaged boiler, a refurbished heavy fuel oil shell boiler, an updated control system and a new water treatment plant.

“ULH has a strong commitment to sustainability and the new energy centre will reduce our carbon footprint significantly, as well as freeing up funds that can be diverted to improving facilities for patients,” explained ULH’s environmental services manager, Kevin Thoy. “Cofely’s experience in low carbon technologies, combined with an understanding of the health sector, proved invaluable in choosing the best solution for the hospital in both the short and long term. Cofely also helped us to secure extra funding, including a £200,000 biomass grant from Lincolnshire County Council,” he added.

A key feature of the centre is its inherent flexibility, which will enable the hospital to take advantage of the most economical and sustainable fuels in the future. For example, the boilers used to supplement the biomass plant have dual fuel capability and can be switched to bio-oil in the future if this becomes economically viable.

The Pilgrim Hospital energy centre was recently ‘Highly Commended’ at the Combined Heat & Power Association Awards.

To find out more, visit www.cofely.com.