Victoria General hospital is one of three Island hospitals earmarked for a new solar power system expected to be rooftop ready and preheating water early next year. The solar thermal panels and copper tubing heat-transfer system will be in place at the View Royal facility, and at Saanich Peninsula and Lady Minto hospitals by March 31, 2011.
Victoria General hospital is one of three Island hospitals earmarked for a new solar power system expected to be rooftop ready and preheating water early next year.
The solar thermal panels and copper tubing heat-transfer system will be in place at the View Royal facility, and at Saanich Peninsula and Lady Minto hospitals by March 31, 2011.
"It’s (VIHA’s) first foray into renewable energy resources," said Joe Ciarniello, an energy manager with Vancouver Island Health Authority. "I think VIHA is a bit unique in that regard."
VIHA recently issued a request for proposals, and a contract is expected to be awarded in mid to late December.
Touted for its cost and energy savings, the initiative is part of a three-year partnership between the province, BC Hydro and more recently Terasen Gas. Their collaboration, known as the Public Sector Energy Conservation Agreement (PSECA), along with SolarBC and Natural Resources Canada, is providing $2.8 million this year to equip solar panels at 24 schools, nine post-secondary institutions and five hospitals in the province.
A cost breakdown for the Island hospitals is under wraps during the contract bidding process, but “the simple payback on these three projects is in the 10- to 25-year range,” said Ciarniello. “However, since the projects are essentially fully funded through PSECA, the payback for VIHA is next to zero.
"These (hospitals) are long-term facilities and it makes sense to do these kinds of (energy) projects."
The solar system will be low on maintenance costs and should last 40 years, Ciarniello said, adding that solar technology is already in widespread use in Europe.
"There’s really no risk," he said. "It’s simply proven off-the-shelf technology. It’s just that we live in a place where energy costs are still relatively low."
But that’s expected to change.
According to the health authority, using this technology makes complete financial sense in the context of anticipated rising costs of natural gas or propane and fuel taxes.
"The economics of doing these kinds of projects should only get better in future," the manager said from his Campbell River office. "So I think it says a lot about VIHA being focused on being more aware of energy use."
In the case of Victoria General, the solar system will preheat potable water used for heating, cooking, cleaning, laundry and bathing.
Source: Story on SolarBC blog