New Jersey Hospital Reduces Energy Costs with Trigeneration

The Challenge

One of the hospitals within a large New Jersey healthcare system faced financial pressures stemming from uncertainty around reimbursement levels and healthcare funding. The organization sought opportunities to reduce operating expenses and redirect additional resources toward patient care.
After evaluating both solar and turbine-based power generation options, the hospital identified trigeneration as the preferred approach for reducing energy costs while supporting the facility’s significant electricity, heating, and cooling requirements.

The Solution

Centrica Business Solutions designed and installed a 2 MW trigeneration system utilizing two 1,000 kW natural-gas-powered reciprocating engines. The system generates electricity on-site while recovering heat that would otherwise be wasted.
Recovered heat is used to generate steam, reducing demand on the hospital’s existing boilers. Additional recovered heat is routed through an absorption chiller to produce chilled water, reducing demand on electric chillers while providing additional cooling capacity during peak summer periods.
The system was designed to achieve total plant efficiency exceeding 80% through the combined production of electricity, steam, hot water, and chilled water.

The Result

Following installation, the hospital began generating approximately 60% of its electricity on-site. The integrated trigeneration system enabled the facility to reduce utility expenses by 35%, resulting in approximately $2 million in annual savings.
The project also strengthened the hospital’s energy reliability. During emergencies or extended utility outages, the trigeneration system can provide up to 110% of the hospital’s electricity requirements, enabling the facility to remain fully operational during critical situations.