The Challenges in Decarbonising the Healthcare Estate

The healthcare sector faces a significant challenge in decarbonising its estate due to the complexities of retrofitting existing facilities while meeting strict environmental and operational requirements. As the demand for sustainable solutions increases, healthcare providers face growing pressure to reduce their carbon footprint while maintaining high standards of patient care and comfort.

Mitsubishi Electric is at the forefront of addressing these challenges by offering a range of HVAC solutions that balance energy efficiency with enhanced performance. Our expertise in low-carbon technologies allows us to work closely with healthcare consultants to specify HVAC systems that not only meet current regulatory demands, but also future-proof buildings against ever evolving environmental standards.

From advanced heat pumps and air conditioning, to mechanical heat recovery ventilation systems, Mitsubishi Electric provides the innovative tools and support needed to achieve significant carbon reductions in healthcare settings, ensuring a sustainable future for both the environment and patient care.

For more information read the Healthcare Brochure:

The Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme

The Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme is a government-led initiative aimed at reducing carbon emissions across public sector buildings and infrastructure. The scheme provides funding, guidance and support to public sector bodies – including central government departments, schools, colleges and universities, NHS trusts, and local authorities – to help them transition to more energy-efficient and low carbon technologies.

The scheme aims to reduce energy consumption, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and promote sustainability within the public sector, contributing to the UK’s national goals of carbon neutrality and climate change mitigation.

An additional financial year of funding has been granted for Phase 3c.

Up to £230m will be allocated to projects taking place in 2024/25, with an additional budget for financial year 2025/26.

The budget available in 2025/26 will be confirmed this autumn.

Public sector bodies that are contracting authorities in England are eligible to apply for Phase 3c of the PSDS.

As Phase 3 is focused on heat decarbonisation, the installation of fossil fuel measures through this scheme is not available.

Funding is provided for costs over and above the like-for-like replacement costs of a fossil fuel heating system. Eligible projects are those undertaken in England involving the installation of heat decarbonisation and energy efficiency measures.

Visit the website to learn more about the scheme and project eligibility requirements.

Low Carbon HVAC Solutions for the Healthcare Sector

Mitsubishi Electric is leading the way with a comprehensive range of low carbon HVAC solutions. Below is a snapshot of some of the solutions available.

Air Conditioning

Mitsubishi Electric offer a full range of HVAC healthcare solutions, for anything from small single rooms to an entire hospital ward, for GP surgeries, pharmacies and labs, right up to a complete hospital campus.

City Multi Hybrid VRF, or HVRF, is an advanced air conditioning system.

This unique and innovative solution is based on a 2-pipe Heat Recovery VRF system but uses water as a heat exchange medium between the Hybrid Branch Controller (HBC) and the indoor units. As such, the system combines the comfort of a traditional hydronic system with the efficiency and ease of modern VRF air conditioning.

By utilising water pipework to connect the indoor units, this removes the requirement for refrigerant in occupied areas. This approach simplifies compliance with BS EN378 and eliminates the need for costly leak detection measures.

Heat Pumps & Chillers

Mitsubishi Electric’s extensive range of Heat Pumps and Chillers offers a wide choice of systems suitable for healthcare facilities.

Utilising low GWP R454C refrigerant, the Ecodan CAHV-R Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP) offers a robust, low carbon system for the provision of sanitary hot water and space heating. This innovative ASHP can operate as a single system or form part of a multiple unit system, making it suitable for a wide range of applications, including hospitals.

Mitsubishi Electriic’s highly energy efficient e-Series chiller range offers an easy-to-install solution for projects requiring a quick turnaround.

The modular nature of the e-Series allows for a design which best fits any given space and with a capacity ranging from 150kW to 1,080kW, they can save up to 35% of space compared to traditional chillers.

The Climaveneta range of heat pumps and chillers features a diverse selection of models that use a wide range of low and lower GWP refrigerants, alongside the latest fixed speed / inverter scroll and screw compressors.

These advanced systems are engineered to meet the demands of a multitude of applications, offering cutting-edge performance and efficiency for a variety of settings in the healthcare sector.

Hot Water Provision

Specifically designed for medium capacity commercial sanitary hot water applications, where gas boilers, combined heat and power systems (CHP) or electric water heating have been traditionally utilised, the Ecodan QAHV provides a low carbon, high temperature solution (up to 90°C) for a wide range of projects. To help achieve this, the Ecodan QAHV utilises the natural refrigerant CO2.

Mitsubishi Electric has also recently launched a new Water-to-Water Heat pump,
the EW-HT-G05.

The hugely popular EW-HT has now been updated to use lower GWP refrigerant R513A, giving a 56% reduction in the CO2e. Available in 4 model sizes from 73 to 100kW, the EW-HT-G05 has the same operating envelope as the previous generation, offering condenser leaving water temperatures of up to 78°C, but with new options including inbuilt refrigerant leak detection sensors, master/client group controls and Keyboard In your Pocket user interface (KIPLink).

The new EW-HT-G05 is perfect for applications requiring high temperature water of up to 78°C, complementing your air sourced heat pumps to create a cascade system, and allowing the decarbonisation of your project through the replacement of fossil fuel heating systems in the process.

Helping your clients lower their carbon footprint. The EW-HT-G05 is designed with a compact footprint for indoor placement making installation straightforward, while also utilising lower GWP refrigerant R513A, which being non-flammable, has an ASHRAE A1 safety class. With its 2 independent circuits, the EW-HT-G05 can operate in part load to improve efficiency during low-demand periods.

Lossnay Ventilation Systems

Ensuring well-ventilated spaces and good Indoor Air Qualiity (IAQ) is a key concern for healthcare facilities. Our Lossnay range of Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery systems not only ensures a continuous supply of fresh air but can also improve energy efficiency through heat recovery.

Mitsubishi Electric’s Lossnay range is designed to extract stale indoor air continuously and efficiently and replace it with fresh filtered air from outside. With heat recovery, the system also minimises the amount of energy lost by recovering the heat from the extracted air and transferring it to the supply of fresh air.