Summary

The project “Innovative systems for energy efficiency in the Liguria hospital sector” aimed at studying and implementing new forms of management and innovative technologies (thermal insulation, cogeneration, solar roof) that could allow a reduction and a rationalization of the energy consumption in the hospital system of Liguria Region in Italy. The study was organized into three main phases: drawing up of guidelines for energy efficiency in the hospital sector (adopted by the Regional Administration on 18/09/2002); a pilot action in a Ligurian ASL (local health enterprise) aimed at carrying out an energy audit of the structure; and an operative plan for the creation of a pilot ESCO and Consortia for electrical energy purchase in the liberalized market. The project, that lasted 18 months (June 2001-February 2003), was financed by the Liguria Region Administration.

Context

Liguria, the extreme south-western part of Northern Italy, lies on the Ligurian Sea. It is one of the smallest regions of Italy (Surface: 5.416 km²) but it has one of the highest density of population in Italy (300 inhab/km²). The four important cities were Genova (the capital), La Spezia, Savona and Imperia, with a total population of 1,625,000 inhabitants.

Liguria is a narrow strip of land, enclosed between the sea, the Alps and the Apennines mountains. The southerly exposition of most of the region, the lie of the mountains providing protection against continental influxes from the north and the long stretch of coastline, are the principal factors that make for the particularly mild climate of Liguria. In Liguria, there are 28 hospitals with 8,200 beds. Despite that, the number of beds for 1,000 inhabitants (5 beds for 1,000 inhabitants) is in line with the Italian and European average. A research on energy consumption in the Ligurian hospital sector, carried out by the Regional Agency for Energy – ARE Liguria SPA – demonstrated that the energy consumption of Ligurian hospitals is definitely higher (20%) than the national and European average: the Ligurian expenditure for energy amounts to over 23 million euro.

Main Problems

High consumption of electricity for air-conditioning during summer;

Poor technological innovation: old thermal plants for heating during winter;

Low efficiency in buildings: low insulation;

Insufficient energy management.

An analysis of these factors indicated that there was a considerable potential for energy savings to be exploited. The objective of the project was to implement an innovative approach to solve the energy problem in the hospital system of our region. To reach significant energy savings, a new methodology was devised that tackled the technical, economic and management aspects in an integrated way.

Objectives

The main aim of the project was to optimize the energy system of the Ligurian hospital sector in order to reduce:

Energy consumption;

Pollution and CO2 emissions;

Energy costs.

Process

The guidelines analysed the building aspects (thermal insulation of building shell, thermal bridges, insulation, natural lighting) and plant aspects (thermal plant, conditioning system, cogeneration plant) that must be considered for the planning of interventions on hospital structures. The second phase, relative to the pilot action in two hospitals of the ASL 4, was centered on an energy audit of the buildings and the plants of the two structures. This tool was used to analyze the critical issues at plant and building level in such a way as to propose a wide range of improvement interventions.

The third phase, the operative plan, was of a purely management nature, based on the rationalization of energy management within the structures. It included, on the basis of the results obtained in the second phase, an analysis of the necessary premises for the setting up of an ESCO, and the foundation of a consortium for the supply of electrical energy in the liberalized market.

Energy plant – proposed interventions

Use of highly efficient (condensing) boilers;

Use of CHP systems (prime mover = microturbines, or gas engines);

Local temperature sensing/control loops.

Windows and framing – proposed interventions

Replacement of simple glazing with up-to-date thermally insulated double glazing;

Framing replacement (thermally insulated);

Use of window shading panels in summer;

Replacement of poorly insulated aluminium panels under and between windows.

Building shell insulation – proposed interventions:

Insulation of roof;

Insulation of horizontal and vertical walls.

Other kind of interventions were studied but rejected:

Trigeneration (electricity + heat + cooling). Considering the current plants and the current gas fee;

The payback period was too long, there was no economical return;

Exhaust heat recovery from chillers was not profitable;

Use of variable frequency drive inverters. This kind of intervention will be implemented when the plant is changed, not before;

Plant zoning allowing to adapt the distribution of heat and cooling to individual local needs. It will require structural intervention on buildings.

Financial Resources and Partners

The total costs of the project was 557,000 • financed 100 percent by the Liguria Region Administration. The partner in the project was the Regional Administration of Liguria Region.

Results

Energy savings were estimated to reach and even pass 15 percent, thereby bringing a cost saving of over 3.4 million •. Recently ARE set up theLigurian Energy Consortium, whose current members are public bodies (Regione Liguria, ASL 3 and 4) and a certain number of hospitals, reaching more than than 25 GWh. The savings for the last three months of 2002 got to more than 50,000 • while the 2003 savings were 200,000 •. In the following months, the consortium extended to a provincial and regional level, with a saving on the electricity bill of somewhere around 10 percent. It was envisaged that the implementation of the proposed interventions in the ASL 4 will lead to a reduction in energy consumption of about 4,638 MWh/year. Energy produced by renewables in ASL 4 is from thermal solar (100 sqm.): 56 MWh/year and from photovoltaic system 20 kW: 78 MW/year. The reduction in CO₂ emissions is 1.300 tons/year.

The economic benefits are 171.220 •/year, and the project itself allowed to increase the personnel of ARE Liguria by three people. The correct application of the guidelines and the launch of the ESCO in the ASL 4 was expected to the creation of other work placements (about 10). ARE made the Regional Administration and hospital managements aware of the critical situation in the health sector. Moreover, it involved two Council Departments of the same Administration: Health and Environment. This was a very important achievement.

Regione Liguria and the local health office ASL 4 approved the results of the project and involved ARE Liguria to prepare the technical tender for EPC – Energy Performance Contracts (including legal, technical and management aspects). Meetings were held with companies like Siemens, ABB, Simar, Cophatec, local utilities, and others to check the real interest in this project; some companies showing a great interest in participating. The call for tenders started in early 2004 for:

2 CHP units (100 and 200 kW);

Monitoring and control system for two hospitals;

Replacement of existing boilers;

Management and maintenance for new and existing plants.

The duration of the EPC was evaluated in 8.5 years.

Lessons Learned and Repeatability

An innovative approach was created whose main characteristics were to face technical, economic and management aspects together and to consider in the same time different fields of application

An innovative approach was created whose main characteristics were to face technical, economic and management aspects together and to consider in the same time different fields of application. The main problems encountered were collection and use of data, plants complexity and the low level of liberalization of the gas market. The project was created with the intention of extending the new methodology to other hospitals. For this reason, it was easy to adopt the approach individuated in “Innovative systems for energy efficiency in the Liguria hospital sector” in other similar structures in Italy, Europe and third world countries. Another possibility was the dissemination of this methodology in other sectors (residential, public building, tourism, etc.).