Work will begin this month on a £20 million initiative to transform Trafford General Hospital into the UK’s first in-patient hospital with a ‘carbon net zero’ energy system that will replace the hospital’s ageing heating and energy infrastructure with advanced, low-carbon technology.
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), which manages Trafford General, secured £18.9 million in funding from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme to support this ‘transformational programme’ that will significantly reduce the hospital’s carbon emissions, cutting energy-related emissions by an estimated 92% by 2040 and save up to £100,000 annually on energy costs. The first phase of the project will see Dalkia, an energy services provider that is part of the EDF Group, install ‘state of the art’ air- and water-source heat pumps to replace the outdated natural gas heating.
Mark Cubbon, MFT’s chief executive and a former nurse at Trafford General Hospital early in his career, said: “This pioneering scheme is fantastic news as we work towards making the NHS ‘carbon net zero’, and thereby demonstrate our commitment to improving the environment and tackling the broader causes of health inequality. Trafford General has an incredible heritage, and this project reinforces the hospital’s legacy as a symbol of progress, honouring its role as the birthplace of the NHS while paving the way for a greener, healthier future.”
Jon Kershaw, Dalkia’s managing director, said: “We are proud to deliver the initial stages of this ‘groundbreaking’ project. By replacing the hospital’s ageing heating system with cutting-edge low-carbon technology, we are helping to set a new benchmark for sustainability in healthcare. This project shows the power of collaboration and innovation in driving the transition to ‘net zero’ energy systems.”
The project will also upgrade the hospital’s cavity wall insulation and ‘supercharge’ its renewable energy generation by expanding its solar panels. This project also represents significant progress on Greater Manchester’s journey to reach ‘carbon net zero’ by 2038.