A 1.2 megawatt solar farm will soon be installed at Health City Cayman Islands, the first of its kind for a Caribbean hospital. The solar farm will utilise cutting edge technology to integrate a photovoltaic energy storage system with the existing Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning (HVAC) equipment, resulting in a reduction in overall energy consumption at the 107,000 SF facility by 40%.

The solar farm is one of the largest non-utility systems in the Caribbean and continues Health City’s commitment to utilising renewable energy technologies throughout all phases of development.

Health City was built with sustainability in mind. The structure was constructed out of the highly energy efficient Insulated Concrete Form and generates oxygen onsite to drastically reduce the carbon footprint compared to liquid oxygen.

Further sustainable design elements feature a segregated HVAC system defined by clinical use areas, and installation of high efficiency equipment. The equipment is also integrated into a fully automated building management system that can track all aspects of energy and resource consumption.

A two-phase commissioning program was implemented which ensures building systems are functioning properly and at the highest efficiency possible. Typical hospital HVAC systems account for 70% of total energy consumption in a climate such as the Cayman Islands, and the design of Health City HVAC system has been built to reduce the energy consumption by 30% to date.

Ryan Smith, Director of Health City’s Facilities Management said the tertiary care hospital is quickly becoming an industry leader in sustainability.

“The integration of energy-reducing and resource conservation systems at Health City, including a recycling program, onsite medical waste management, future sea water district cooling system, rain water harvesting, and the forthcoming installation of the solar farm, have all contributed to the goal of creating a facility that is accountable, and utilises sustainability practices to further contain costs while protecting our environment.”

Health City systematically tracks waste generation and diversion statistics so real time adjustments and improvements can continually be made. Further construction is slated for later this year to expand the hospital, whereby all new construction will utilise existing vegetation including the reuse of soil, felled trees, and relocation and integration of existing indigenous trees.

Project Director Gene Thompson said, “We are pleased with the implementation and results of our conservation policies and systems. All initiatives have been extremely positive economically as well as good for the environment and community.”

The solar farm will be installed in collaboration with a local Cayman firm and is anticipated to be operational in the fourth quarter of 2015.

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