The EPC will target savings of over £1 million per year by implementing a wide range of improvements at the 500-bed Rotherham Hospital.

Backed by the necessary investment and payback through the Carbon and Energy Fund Procurement framework, the EPC will now upgrade energy provision, reduce CO2 emissions by 49,620 tonnes and build long-term energy resilience.

Maintaining a modern patient care environment for the Trust, which treats over 430,000 patients each year, means that a secure and cost efficient energy supply is essential. To meet this energy demand and dramatically reduce the carbon footprint, the projects will cover the design, delivery, installation, commissioning and subsequent operation of combined heat and power plant, replacement of seven 40-year-old boilers, and installation of a chiller plant to provide effective air conditioning.

As good lighting levels have a positive effect on patient treatment and outcomes, the contract will upgrade the lighting to take advantage of the latest low energy and LED technology through the installation of 7,000 new fittings.

Further energy saving measures will include insulation on pipes and valves, and a battery energy storage system. These energy saving measures will be guaranteed by Veolia who will also provide a comprehensive 20-year maintenance service.

Commenting on this latest EPC project, Gavin Graveson, Executive Vice-President, Veolia UK & Ireland said: “Energy performance contracts have shown that they make a major contribution to meeting The NHS Carbon Reduction Strategy for England (CRS) and the ambition for the NHS to help drive change towards a low carbon society. Better still this also helps the NHS to become more sustainable and focus budgets on patient care. We look forward to working with the Trust and helping them meet the Department of Health’s Sustainable Development Unit model for NHS organisations.”

Delivering energy management to hospitals since 1938, Veolia currently provides the services that cover around 43,000 UK hospital beds and supports the energy requirements for around 8.1 million inpatients each year. This increases sustainability of the healthcare sector by annually saving over 120,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions.