PIMS to have solar power plant

The Energy Foundation, an NGO, has offered to PIMS cost effective solutions based on renewable energy. The captive power plant and geothermal energy Air-Conditioning (HVAC) system for PIMS based on renewable energy will be the first landmark project of its kind in the country.

The other hospitals in Pakistan could follow PIMS and save millions of rupees every year for providing cooling, heating, and supply of hot water. Moreover, the hospitals will save electricity, natural gas, oil and water for the country besides reduction in greenhouse emissions to counter climate change and global warming.

The Energy Foundation has prepared a feasibility study for setting up a Captive Power Plant of one M.W capacity based on Concentrated Solar Power and Biomass including all kinds of hospital waste.

The power plant will meet the complete energy needs of the hospital and generate electricity at the rate of fifty percent of the current tariff to meet the air-conditioning, cooling, heating and hot water requirement of PIMS. Energy Foundation has also prepared a feasibility study for the installation of Air-conditioning (HVAC) system which will use geothermal energy which is freely available all over Pakistan and a reliable, renewable and sustainable source of energy.

The geothermal energy based on Air-conditioned HVAC system will save Utility Bills, 100 percent for gas, up to 70 percent for electricity and 100 percent for water and the anticipated annual financial savings will be Rs. 100 million. Both the projects will not use any natural gas, or oil and there will be no greenhouse gas emissions which will protect the environment.

PIMS Spokesperson Waseem Khawaja said that the hospital is a renowned healthcare institution providing health services to millions of patients every year from all over the country but the utility cost of the institution has been rising over the years due to increase in energy prices.

In the wake of energy crises PIMS has been exploring various options for renewable, alternate and economical energy sources, to provide the better environment to its patients, reduce the cost of utility bills and also to improve the functioning and safety of equipment worth billions of rupees through reliable energy supply. And this project will solve the longstanding issues of the hospital.

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