NHS Trust enters demand response programme

Demand response aggregation company KiWi Power has partnered with Calderdale & Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust to participate in demand response and energy management programmes to support the Trust’s sustainability agenda and demonstrate an innovative approach to financial challenges facing the NHS.

The Trust, which comprises Calderdale Royal Hospital in Halifax and Huddersfield Royal Infirmary, has committed to contribute up to 2 MW of electricity capacity upon request by the National Grid. KiWi Power will oversee and manage this automated process from its operations centre based in London. Calderdale & Huddersfield will reduce its grid electricity consumption during critical times, eg when blackouts and brownouts are imminent, thereby reducing stress on the grid and decreasing the need for energy providers to generate additional power.

Hospitals and healthcare trusts have very specific requirements, due to the critical nature of their site functions, says KiWi, which has extensive experience in dealing with the challenges of ensuring uninterruptable electricity supply at energy critical sites.

The company has also signed an agreement to administer a similar demand response and energy management programme with Aubrey Allen Butchers; to both make significant cost savings for the company and to establish a new annual revenue stream, whilst helping to relieve strain on National Grid. Aubrey Allen Butchers has committed to contribute up to 264 kW of electricity capacity.