New Cross Hospital​ - CEF

New Cross Hospital​

Reducing exposure to rising energy costs

Wolverhampton’s New Cross Hospital will be entirely powered by solar-generated electricity for more than 9 months every year, thanks to a multi-million pound project on behalf of The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust (RWT).

Carbon and Energy Fund (CEF) worked closely with the Trust to help secure the project capital required to transform a brownfield site in Wednesfield into a solar farm with the footprint of 22 football pitches.

The whole team's energy, knowledge and passion has been invaluable in overcoming various challenges with delivery

RWT received around £15m in grant funding with contributions from the Government’s Levelling-Up Fund, the NHS and government-funded Salix Finance. A further £33m for green energy works came from the Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme.

Beyond securing vital project capital, the involvement of CEF was instrumental in orchestrating such a complex, large-scale project – from the initial concept with the City of Wolverhampton Council to navigating viability and Trust approval, contractor procurement, technical assistance, project management and successful completion of the scheme.

>15,000 electricity generating solar panels to produce 6.9MWp of renewable energy
The largest single source of green energy on any hospital site within the UK
Estimated annual carbon saving: 1,583 tonnes

On the ground, this ambitious, time-pressured scheme called on CEF’s specialist project management experience to transform the former coal mine and landfill site into a solar farm. The technical challenges to be overcome while preparing the site included troubleshooting the methane venting system, coordinating surveys and drainage works, installing 24-hour security and creating exclusion zones to protect badger setts.

With over 15,000 panels installed by contractor Vital Energi, the team also faced the not-insignificant task of connecting the solar farm to five new air source heat pumps at the hospital via 1.5 miles of private wire across the highway, canal bridge and busy road junction.

To help the Trust achieve its net-zero goals the works also included a range of additional energy efficiency measures to the building fabric and infrastructure, such as replacing steam traps, insulating pipework, installing LED lighting and upgrading windows.

All in all, the scheme will save £15 million-£20 million over next 20 years as part of a guaranteed performance contract put in place by CEF – vital monies that can be invested back into frontline healthcare services.

Our primary focus as a Trust is always on the patient and these works ensure the Trust saves money on future energy bills, which we can then subsequently invest across other healthcare services.

18/03/2024
Framework 05

Wolverhampton’s New Cross Hospital is set to open its new solar farm at a former landfill site in April 2024

A solar farm which will power Wolverhampton’s New Cross Hospital for three quarters of the year is set to be up and running this spring.

18/03/2024
Framework 05

CEF appoints F P Hurley to deliver a £9million contract to cut carbon and energy costs for Warwick Hospital

We’re pleased to announce that F P Hurley has been awarded a major decarbonisation project at Warwick Hospital with on-site works starting December 2023.

22/09/2023
Framework 05

CEF enables Nottingham University Hospitals to partner with E.ON to deliver on its net zero ambitions

New Queen’s Medical Centre heating and cooling system expected to cut CO2 emissions by around 10,000 tonnes a year– the equivalent of taking more than 2,200 cars off the road

22/09/2023
Framework 05

Bridlington Hospital receives £4.7m of grant funding

York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust received £4.7m of grant funding as part of the government’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS).

09/03/2023
Framework 05

Mater Misericordiae University Hospital

Target savings for Dublin’s Mater Misericordiae University Hospital following the first year of operations have yielded an additional €44k of savings.

28/02/2023
Framework 05

Eastbourne District General Hospital

The Carbon and Energy Fund has appointed Veolia to deliver a £27million contract to cut carbon and energy costs for Eastbourne District General Hospital.