Heat Pumps Today

18 June | July 2023 N E T Z E R O They’re efficient, non-toxic and also cheaper over other heat pump alternatives. Heat pumps can reduce your carbon footprint and energy bills in the long run, and are much more sustainable compared to gas boilers - which produce more CO 2 per unit energy produced. Why heat pumps play an essential role in the NHS’s decarbonisation targets NHS Hospitals and Trusts across the UK can benefit in many ways from installing a heat pump in their premises, and will contribute to: 1. Lower Energy Bills 2. Improved Local Air Quality 3. Improved Energy Security - Moving Away from Fossil Fuel Imports 4. Access to Flexibility Markets for Further Energy Cost Reductions Installing a heat pump in our hospitals The NHS is a healthcare service that can never turn off, running 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. Before determining what heat pump a hospital would need, a professional heat pump engineer would carry out a feasibility study to cover the big questions such as; space, noise, power supply and suitability. This will then progress into the design stages before installation. It is vital that the whole system is commissioned properly and then serviced correctly for safety, and maximum efficiency. The first year of operation is where the heat pump is optimised to work in all conditions, this engineering support is key to long term success. Generally, heat pumps are installed in car parks / open space around the building or on the roof. They need good air flow to operate correctly. The hot water is then piped into the existing boiler location and distributed from there. Occasionally, some modifications are required to the heating system which can also make things even more efficient. A power supply is also required, this will come from the nearest supply or sub-supply location. Examples of Healthcare Facilities that plan to implement Commercial Heat Pumps NHS trusts are leaping into net zero plans as heat pump installations increase across the UK. Here are the targets within each nation. 1. By 2045, Scotland’s NHS hopes to reach net zero 2. To reach a larger goal of a net zero public sector by 2030, Wales’ NHS has agreed to a 34% cut 3. The English health and social care system reduced its carbon impact by 62% between 1990 and 2020 and reduced its water footprint by 21% between 2010 and 2017 And with further heat pump installations planned, the NHS is moving fast towards meeting net zero targets. Here are some examples of NHS trust commercial heat pump installations planned as of March 2023 with the support of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme. 1. All three buildings at the Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust—the Ashton Centre at Pinderfields Hospital, Woodkirk House and Cullingworth Nurses Home at Dewsbury District Hospital—will have air source heat pumps fitted. 2. Eccles Town Hall, Woodhouse Park Leisure Centre, Dial Park Primary School in Stockport, Shevington Library, an office building at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, and three other council office buildings are among the buildings at Greater Manchester Combined Authority where heat pumps will be installed. 3. A number of NHS Trusts and services buildings, including West Park Hospital and New Cross Hospital at the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, Walsall Manor Hospital at the Walsall NHS Trust, Sandwell General Hospital at Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust, and a training academy and hospital hub of West Midlands Ambulance Service, will have air source heat pumps installed by the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust. 4. All the structures at Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, including the MRI scanning unit, the orthopaedic unit, and the paediatric evaluation unit, will be decarbonised. Air source heat systems will take the place of old boilers. You can read more about upcoming heat pump installations at NHS trusts here.