New Energy Centre at Luton & Dunstable Hospital

R G Carter were appointed as the preferred bidder for the delivery of a New Energy Centre at the Luton and Dunstable Hospital site under the Crown Commercial Services Construction Framework to facilitate the expansion of the Hospital’s expansion in the future.

The works involved the demolition of existing garage structures; an estates workshop; uniform and linen stores; as well as other minor items such as trees and garden planters prior to make way for the construction works.

The works consist of the construction of two storey Energy Centre building of approximately 1,600m2, specialist chimney and flues and installation of various site-wide-servicing MEP plant including;

• Generators
• CHP plant;
• Gas fired boilers;
• Adiabatic chillers;
• HV and LV switchgear; and
• Specialist fuel delivery and distribution systems

The Phase 2 Electrical Infrastructure upgrades which formed part of this project encompassed the construction of a new underground, fully  accessible services duct and its connection into an existing duct. Additionally, the works included construction of a series of underground fuel tanks and pumping stations.

Benefits of the new Energy Centre

• Replace existing boiler plant and chimneys with a centralised plant that is more efficient and will be sufficient to serve the whole hospital site.
• Increased resilience across the hospital site as old boilers have been replaced. The scheme has delivered a substitutional reduction in energy consumption.
• Significant reduction in the risk of plant and infrastructure failures.

The hospital is now reducing its carbon emissions by approximately 35% as a result of the new energy centre.