Sustainability in Action: How Renewable Energy is Improving Public Infrastructure

• May 20, 2025

Public infrastructure, especially critical facilities like hospitals, faces increasing pressure to reduce carbon footprints while ensuring reliable, 24/7 energy supply. Hospitals are among the most energy-intensive buildings, consuming nearly three times the energy of average commercial buildings to power lifesaving equipment, lighting, and HVAC systems. The transition to renewable energy sources is no longer just an environmental imperative but a practical solution to enhance energy security, reduce operational costs, and improve resilience.

Renewable Energy Adoption in Public Facilities: The Hospital Challenge

Hospitals demand uninterrupted power, making energy reliability paramount. Traditional reliance on fossil fuels and grid power leaves many vulnerable to outages and high emissions. For example, in Sierra Leone, many health facilities lacked reliable electricity, relying heavily on costly and polluting diesel generators. The Sierra Leone Healthcare Electrification Project demonstrated how solar PV and battery storage can provide clean, reliable power, reducing diesel use by up to 99% and significantly cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

Similarly, hospitals in developed regions are adopting renewables with remarkable success. Martha’s Vineyard Hospital cut utility consumption by 25% through solar arrays and energy efficiency measures, while Castle Hill Hospital in the UK became the first hospital to run entirely on renewable energy from its own solar field.

H2Heat: A Case Study in Green Hydrogen for Heating

The H2Heat project, led by the Oceanic Platform of the Canary Islands (PLOCAN) and supported by a €13 million Horizon Europe grant, is pioneering the use of green hydrogen produced from offshore wind energy to decarbonize heating in public infrastructure.

Unlike solar or wind electricity alone, hydrogen offers a versatile, storable energy vector that can meet the high and continuous heating demands of large facilities such as hospitals. In Gran Canaria, H2Heat is demonstrating a full green hydrogen value chain—from production using offshore wind, through storage and transport, to use in Combined Heat and Power (CHP) units powering hospital heating and hot water systems. This approach aims to reduce CO2 emissions by over 50%, supporting the Canary Health Service’s “Zer0 Net Emissions Health Strategy” and setting a replicable model for hospitals worldwide.

Why Renewable Energy Transforms Public Infrastructure

• Energy Security and Reliability: Renewable systems, especially when combined with storage or hydrogen, reduce dependence on fossil fuels and vulnerable grids, ensuring continuous operation during outages or extreme weather.
• Cost Savings: After initial investments, renewables provide free fuel from natural sources, lowering utility bills and operational costs over time.
• Environmental Impact: Transitioning to renewables drastically cuts greenhouse gas emissions and pollution, improving public health and contributing to climate goals.
• Community Leadership: Public facilities adopting renewables set powerful examples, inspiring broader community shifts toward sustainability.

The Future: Scaling Up and Integrating Renewable Solutions

The H2Heat project exemplifies how innovative renewable energy solutions can be tailored to the unique demands of public infrastructure. Its success will pave the way for wider adoption of green hydrogen heating in hospitals and commercial buildings, complementing solar, wind, and battery technologies.

As cities and regions worldwide commit to net-zero targets, integrating renewable energy into public infrastructure is no longer optional but essential. From rooftop solar panels to advanced hydrogen systems, the energy revolution is reshaping how hospitals and other critical facilities operate—making them cleaner, more resilient, and economically sustainable.

References

• Green City Times. (2024, September 28). Renewable energy in hospitals.
• Sustainable Energy for All. (2024, June). Providing clean power to health facilities in Sierra Leone.
• PLOCAN. (2024). PLOCAN leads the H2Heat project on hydrogen production and use of hydrogen for heating from marine renewable energies.
• Marine Alliance for Science and Technology for Scotland (MASTS). (2024). H2Heat project proposal form.
• ICoRSA. (2024, October 8). H2Heat project overview.
• Green.org. (2024, January 30). Solar power for municipal and public buildings.
• Practice Greenhealth. (2023). 2023 sustainability data.
• Energy5. (n.d.). Integrating renewable energy sources into hospital electrical grids.