Vital Energi has announced a contract to decarbonise two sites belonging to South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. The project, funded through the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS), will see the company design, build, operate and maintain air source heat pumps at Friarage Hospital and The James Cook University Hospital.
The contract encompasses the supply and installation of a 1MW heat pump system at the Friarage and a 3MW system at James Cook, alongside the conversion of existing boiler systems and associated infrastructure upgrades. Work has already commenced on both sites. The project will reduce carbon emissions at the Friarage by over 41% and exceed the required carbon reduction targets by 5% at James Cook.
The project represents a substantial capital investment, with the Friarage element valued at £7.8 million, and James Cook at £7.1 million. These schemes form part of a wider package of energy efficiency measures funded by the PSDS grant.
Beyond the core heat pump installations, the project includes rooftop solar PV installation, hydraulic system optimisation, and building management system enhancements.
John Runniff, Account Development Director from Vital Energi, said: “Our aim is to become the Trust’s long-term energy services partner. We’ll operate and maintain the assets we’ve installed over a 15-year period and are committed to providing continuous improvement. We will help them achieve their net zero objectives whilst delivering guaranteed cost savings and improved energy efficiency. In the past four years alone, we have delivered over £200 million of PSDS-funded projects across eleven hospital sites in the UK.”
The main contractor on the project is Geoffrey Robinson, based in Billingham, Teesside.