Derriford Hospital
Installation of a new 1560 kWe, 11kV gas-fired CHP unit replacing an absorption chiller, with recovered heat exported into the live HTHW network and primary-side electrical integration
Derriford Hospital provides healthcare services to around 450,000 people, including emergency, trauma, maternity, and specialist care, operating continuously.
As part of a £1.78 million energy infrastructure upgrade aligned with the Trust’s Green Plan, a new 1560 kWe, 11kV gas-fired Combined Heat and Power (CHP) unit was installed, replacing an ageing absorption chiller.
This project formed part of a wider NHS sustainability programme aimed at reducing carbon emissions, improving energy resilience, and supporting long-term decarbonisation of the estate.
SDS acted as the Independent Client Technical Advisor, delivering engineering assurance, managing risk governance, and overseeing integration across mechanical, electrical, and control systems to ensure safe and effective implementation.
Involvement
- Provided independent technical assurance for CHP integration within a live NHS estate
- Validated thermal, hydraulic, electrical, and control system interfaces
- Ensured safe delivery, commissioning, and operational continuity
- Supported carbon reduction and energy resilience objectives
Benefits delivered
- Reduced carbon emissions in line with the Trust’s Green Plan and NHS net zero targets
- Lower energy costs and improved cost stability through reduced reliance on grid electricity
- Improved energy efficiency via combined heat and power generation and effective heat recovery
- Enhanced energy resilience, with CHP providing stable baseload and existing boilers/generators retained for backup
- Reliable year-round performance within a continuously operating acute hospital environment
- No disruption to critical clinical services during installation and integration
- Optimised system performance through advanced controls, sequencing, and trend monitoring
- Improved visibility of energy use through metering and monitoring (M&V ready)
- Future-ready infrastructure, supporting long-term estate decarbonisation and further low-carbon integration
- Safe and compliant operation, with robust electrical protection and system integration
- Supports NHS sustainability targets, including contribution toward GreenED Silver accreditation
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