Schneider Electric has recently published a ‘white paper’, The Rise of the All-Electric Hospital, based on piece of research conducted by its global solutions team, which analyses the impact of electrifying a large acute hospital, and some of the key considerations. While the analysis itself is theoretical, it was applied to an actual hospital in Australia, as the company’s Global Segment director for Healthcare, David Evans, explains.
This article introduces the concept of an all-electric hospital, highlighting the pivotal role of electrification and digitisation in revolutionising healthcare infrastructure, with an emphasis on the challenges and opportunities associated with replacing traditional energy sources with electric alternatives. Electrification and digitisation play a crucial role in achieving these objectives by reducing emissions, optimising energy usage, and promoting environmentally friendly practices. However, there are challenges to overcome, such as initial capital investment, regulatory compliance, and the reliability of newer technologies. Implementing an all-electric hospital requires careful planning, including conducting energy audits, researching suitable electric alternatives, analysing the grid energy mix, and redefining asset management strategies.
The transition to all-electric hospitals can significantly impact power demand, requiring the redesign of electrical infrastructure, the installation of EV chargers and solar PV generation, and the replacement of back-up diesel generators with greener alternatives such as hydrogen fuel cells. While there are challenges to address, designing all-electric hospitals is certainly feasible given the coordination of multiple stakeholders and a commitment to sustainable practices.
Electrification of healthcare facilities is now recognised as a key decarbonisation vector. By integrating electrification with digitalisation, healthcare facilities can manage complex electrical solutions efficiently, creating a sustainable and self-sufficient environment. Transitioning to an all-electric estate is complex, and presents several challenges. It requires careful planning, including energy audits, research on suitable electric alternatives, analysis of the grid energy mix, and redefined asset management strategies. Common challenges include capital investment, regulatory compliance, facility lifecycle and asset management, adoption and reliability of new technologies, and energy supply management.
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