Net zero works at Oxford University Hospitals set to create a green future

An ambitious multi-million pound net zero project at the John Radcliffe and Horton General hospitals, part of Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUH), is a major step to creating a green future for the Trust.

The project is funded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero under the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme and is being delivered by Salix. It is due to complete later this year.

Salix representatives Baroness Natalie Evans (Chair), Kevin Holland (Chief Executive), and Ian Rodger (Director of Public Sector Decarbonisation) were joined by colleagues from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Rob Hewitt (Director, Industrial Decarbonisation and Emissions Trading) and Paul Chambers (Deputy Director, Public Sector Decarbonisation), for a visit to the John Radcliffe Hospital to see the scale and progress of the project.

Baroness Natalie Evans said: "It was very useful to see in practice how projects of this scale come together and how the work at the John Radcliffe Hospital is part of a bigger ongoing project at OUH.

"It was clear to see the impact of strong and collaborative stakeholder relationships in developing the vision as well as delivering these kinds of projects. The working relationship between the hospital and its delivery partners has driven the decarbonisation works forward and will continue to do so as the project progresses."

Kevin Holland said: "It's fascinating to see projects on this scale - it shows the positive impact from delivery teams at both Salix and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero."

OUH staff including Mark Holloway (Chief Estates and Facilities Officer), Jeenash Mistry (Head of Estates and Facilities Operations), Wendy Cheeseman (Head of Sustainability and Carbon Management), and Craig Merrifield (Deputy Director of Capital Development) also joined the walkaround.

Jeenash Mistry said: "We have achieved a huge amount and it's been a highly complex project; we cannot just turn the power off and get on with work. This is a hospital and at no point have patient services been impacted. Resilience is very much part of our discussion.

"The modernisation of the building's heating and hot water infrastructure will improve our energy efficiency by adapting a range of low carbon technologies and support our journey towards the national target for a net zero NHS carbon footprint by 2040."

The net zero works at the John Radcliffe are aimed at making the hospital more energy efficient and providing a better environment for patients.

A total of £24.1m was awarded to the John Radcliffe Hospital and £5.7m to the Horton General Hospital under Phase 3b of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme.

The scheme is run by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero to support the aim of reducing emissions from public sector buildings.

OUH further contributed £8.2m towards the wider scheme, taking the total expenditure to £38m over a three-year period.

Vital Energi team, the prime contractors for the project, also joined the visit. The team included Steve Black (Account Director), Chris Yeo (Director of Low Carbon Solutions), Neil Otter (Senior Project Manager), and Jordan Firth (Contracts Manager), who were able to explain the technologies being installed.

The project tour and technologies

The group looked at the new energy efficiency technologies including the solar PV panels, energy efficient fans in air-handling units, building management systems, plate heat exchangers, the new low temperature-hot-water pipework distribution system, and cascading air-to-water heat pumps.

The project involves the John Radcliffe Hospital being 'de-steamed' with the existing steam network decommissioned and replaced with new, cleaner, and more efficient pipework. The pipework is heated by substituting gas boilers with low carbon electric heat pumps and additional energy efficiency measures.

At the Horton, where work has completed, zero carbon technologies were connected into the existing low temperature heating system. A projected 1,200 tonnes of carbon will be saved every year.

In addition to significantly improving the efficiency through heat pumps, the new system also reduces carbon emissions and the carbon footprint, water consumption, water treatment costs, operational and maintenance costs and reduces the Trust's maintenance backlog by replacing end-of-life infrastructure in buildings.

Solar panels, more efficient pipework insulation, and draught-proofing, have also been installed to improve energy efficiency.