Net Zero Hospitals and The Road to 2030

• May 29, 2025

Leading the Canary Islands’ Journey to Net Zero in Healthcare

The global healthcare sector faces a challenge: reduce its carbon footprint while maintaining lifesaving services. Hospitals, which account for nearly 5% of global CO₂ emissions, are under increasing pressure to decarbonize. In the Canary Islands, H2Heat project is demonstrating how green hydrogen can transform healthcare infrastructure, offering a blueprint for achieving net zero emissions by 2030.  

A Hospital Powered by Green Hydrogen

H2Heat project has an ambitious goal: to replace fossil fuels with green hydrogen at the Complejo Hospitalario Universitario Insular Materno Infantil in Gran Canaria. This hydrogen will then power a combined heat and pump (CHP) system, providing over 50% of the hospital’s thermal energy needs while slashing carbon emissions.

The project’s innovation extends beyond technology. By establishing a localized hydrogen production and distribution network, H2Heat addresses one of the most persistent barriers to renewable energy adoption in remote regions: infrastructure. The Canary Islands’ geographic isolation makes traditional energy logistics costly and carbon-intensive. Green hydrogen, produced locally and stored for on-demand use, offers a resilient alternative.

Why the Canary Islands? A Laboratory for Sustainable Healthcare  

The archipelago’s consistent winds and sunny weather make it an ideal testing ground for renewable energy solutions. Remote communities, limited grid connectivity, and reliance on imported fuels mirror conditions faced by island nations and rural regions worldwide.  

H2Heat’s partnership with the Canary Islands Health Service (SCS) aligns with the region’s Zero Net Emissions 2030 Health Strategy. This collaboration is systemic by integrating hydrogen into every significant part of hospital operations. The project also prioritizes economic viability, aiming to reduce costs across the hydrogen value chain through technological innovation and scaled production.

The Ripple Effects of Decarbonization  

The implications of H2Heat extend far beyond environmental benefits. By 2030, the project aims to create a replicable “Hydrogen Valley” model, linking energy production, storage, and consumption across Gran Canaria and neighboring islands. This ecosystem could spur job growth in renewable energy sectors, reduce healthcare operational costs, and enhance energy security during extreme weather events, a critical consideration as climate change intensifies.  

Globally, healthcare systems are grappling with similar challenges. The NHS in the UK, for instance, estimates that medicines account for 25% of its carbon footprint, with anaesthetic gases and inhalers contributing significantly[6]. While H2Heat focuses on thermal energy, its success could inspire analogous solutions for pharmaceutical supply chains and medical device manufacturing.  

Scaling Solutions for a Net Zero Future  

Achieving net zero in healthcare requires more than isolated projects; it demands systemic change. The H2Heat initiative exemplifies three pillars of this transition:  

• Technology Integration: Combining offshore wind, electrolysis, and hydrogen-CHP systems ensures maximum energy efficiency. Excess heat from the CHP process, for example, can be repurposed for water sterilization or space heating, minimizing waste.  
• Policy Alignment: Backed by €10.6 million in Horizon Europe funding, H2Heat aligns with EU goals for climate resilience and energy independence. It also supports the COP28 Declaration on Climate and Health, which commits signatories to integrating climate action into healthcare planning.  
• Community Engagement: By involving local stakeholders, from policymakers to hospital staff, the project fosters a culture of sustainability. Training programs for healthcare workers on hydrogen system management ensure long-term viability.  

A Blueprint for Global Healthcare  

The Canary Islands’ journey to net zero offers lessons for healthcare systems worldwide. First, decarbonization is not a distant ideal but an achievable target with existing technologies. Second, partnerships between public institutions, private companies, and international organizations are essential to overcoming financial and technical barriers. Finally, projects must prioritize adaptability, ensuring solutions can be tailored to diverse geographic and economic contexts.  

By 2030, the H2Heat team envisions a network of net zero hospitals across Europe, each powered by locally generated renewable energy. For patients, staff, and policymakers alike, the message is clear: the future of healthcare is not only low-carbon but resilient, equitable, and sustainable.  

Sources

• H2Heat Project https://h2-heat.eu/about/
• Why the Canary Islands are The for Pioneering Hydrogen – H2Heat https://h2-heat.eu/blog/this-is-why-the-canary-islands-are-the-best-option-for-pioneering-hydrogen-projects-in-healthcare/
• H2Heat Objectives https://h2-heat.eu/objectives/
• 2025-02 Policy brief – Charting a Course to Net Zero Emissions for … https://europe.noharm.org/media/7092/download?inline=1
• The carbon footprint of the healthcare sector – Development Aid https://www.developmentaid.org/news-stream/post/190936/carbon-footprint-of-healthcare-sector
• Net zero: progress on reducing the environmental impact of medicines https://pharmaceutical-journal.com/article/feature/net-zero-progress-on-reducing-the-environmental-impact-of-medicines
• Ambition With Uncertainty: Exploring Policy-Makers’ Perspectives on … https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11845860/
• Green hydrogen and hospitals: a revolution in healthcare – ETKHO https://www.etkho.com/en/green-hydrogen-and-hospitals-a-revolution-in-healthcare/
• Hydrogen technologies for decarbonization of industrial heating … https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101091456
• Renewable Energy in Hospitals – Green City Times https://www.greencitytimes.com/renewable-energy-in-hospitals/
• PLOCAN leads the H2Heat project on hydrogen production and use … https://plocan.eu/en/plocan-leads-the-h2heat-project-on-hydrogen-production-and-use-of-hydrogen-for-heating-from-marine-renewable-energies
• Net Zero: How the UK is making an impact on sustainable healthcare https://www.worldhealthexpo.com/insights/sustainability/net-zero-how-the-uk-is-making-an-impact-on-sustainable-healthcare
• Net Zero Carbon Healthcare – Arup https://www.arup.com/globalassets/downloads/insights/net-zero-carbon-healthcare.pdf
• Green hydrogen for heating to pilot in Canary Islands https://www.powerengineeringint.com/hydrogen/green-hydrogen-for-heating-to-pilot-in-canary-islands/
• 70 health care institutions from 25 countries commit to net-zero https://greenhospitals.org/news/new-race-zero-milestone-70-health-care-institutions-25-countries-commit-net-zero