A £14.7m decarbonisation project transforms The Christie

The Christie Hospital is one of the UK’s most compact hospital sites and this presented unique logistical challenges requiring innovative solutions. We addressed space constraints through extensive off-site pre-fabrication, manufacturing materials in factory environments before transporting to site. This minimised disruption to hospital operations and reduced on-site personnel requirements.

Space limitations were so severe that we used the Bridge Club car park across the road as a site compound, demonstrating the innovative thinking required for infrastructure projects in highly constrained urban healthcare environments.

Ensuring uninterrupted clinical and research services required meticulous planning and close collaboration with the Trust’s operational teams. Critical interface works were scheduled during periods of reduced hospital activity, often between midnight and 5am or during weekends, combined with detailed contingency planning.

Our funding expertise proved instrumental in nearly doubling the project’s scope. We prepared and supported the Trust’s successful Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) funding application, transforming the £7.8m infrastructure refresh into the comprehensive £14.7m decarbonisation programme.

Building on this success, we partnered with Mott McDonald to secure an additional £250k from the Low Carbon Skills Fund to develop a comprehensive decarbonisation strategy for the Trust. This strategic document, presented to the Trust Executive now forms the foundation for estate-wide decarbonisation activities over the future.

We operate the project under a comprehensive Energy Performance Contract providing absolute certainty over performance and costs. We assume full utility procurement responsibility and comprehensive risk transfer while owning all assets.

With guaranteed annual savings of £1,752,399 covering energy and service cost reductions, the Trust benefits from predictable operating costs and budget certainty while accessing cutting-edge technology and market expertise. Our comprehensive service includes strategic procurement with forward buying strategies providing budget stability across multiple financial years, particularly valuable during energy market volatility.

The 15-year initial contract term provides a stable foundation with clear mechanisms for contract extension aligned with the Trust’s evolving decarbonisation requirements.

The infrastructure provides a robust platform for The Christie’s long-term decarbonisation ambitions, with current carbon savings of 999 tonnes annually. Our integrated renewable technologies and energy storage solution creates opportunities for further carbon reduction as the electricity grid continues to decarbonise.

The project’s most significant social impact stems from our deep-rooted partnership with The Christie, our primary charity partner for 12 years during which time we have donated nearly £70k.  Our fundraising initiatives include charity runs such as the Manchester 10k (raising £1,260 in the most recent year), Macmillan coffee mornings, bake sales, raffles, the three peaks challenge, and charity football matches. These ongoing activities support services beyond NHS funding such as research and innovation, advanced medical equipment, training and patient support.

This ground-breaking project demonstrates the transformative potential of comprehensive energy infrastructure partnerships in healthcare. We maintained uninterrupted clinical operations while delivering exceptional value through guaranteed cost savings, complete risk mitigation for energy volatility, and seamless funding access – showing that patient care remains paramount in every aspect of our approach.

The project showcases engineering excellence by implementing innovative renewable technologies and sophisticated energy management systems at one of the UK’s most logistically challenging hospital sites. As a trusted energy partner, our success establishes a new benchmark for healthcare energy transformation, proving ambitious infrastructure modernisation can be achieved without compromising patient care and while delivering immediate financial benefits and long-term operational resilience.

The Christie Hospital project provides a replicable template for healthcare estate decarbonisation, demonstrating that even the most challenging sites can achieve significant carbon reductions whilst maintaining clinical excellence through partnership with energy specialists who understand healthcare’s unique operational requirements.