Italian hospitals turn to cogeneration to reduce CO2 emissions

As the European Union continues to encourage industries to expand their use of combined heat and power (CHP) technologies to improve local energy efficiency and air quality, a growing number of hospitals in Italy are doing their part by installing new, onsite cogeneration plants to help reduce their respective carbon footprints.

Cogeneration is an efficient method of generating electricity and heat compared to the use of separate electrical and thermal systems, and can result in substantial savings on energy costs.

Four hospitals in four Italian cities recently signed contracts to install GE's ecomagination-approved Jenbacher cogeneration systems to improve their energy efficiency and reduce their operational costs. A total of 34 hospitals in Padova, Varese and Brindisi and other cities in Italy have installed Jenbacher cogeneration gas engines.

The four hospitals planning to install the new CHP systems are located in Alessandria, Milan, Cuneo and Conegliano (Treviso). As a result of the hospital district heating projects, these cities will benefit from a total displacement of the equivalent of 20,000 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) every year.

GE's Jenbacher CHP systems also enhance local energy security and patient care by reducing the hospitals' dependence on the regional grid.

"District heating technology is widely used in Northern Europe and has spread throughout Italy in the last few years," said Mario Artoni, general manager-Italy for GE Power & Water's Jenbacher gas engines. "Because the costs and reliability of energy are major concerns for hospitals, onsite CHP systems play a fundamental role by increasing energy efficiency and security while reducing the release of environmentally damaging exhaust gases."