Kilcoy Hospital will be on one of the first Metro North Health facilities to introduce a solar energy system to deliver renewable energy and reduce carbon emissions.

The tender process is in the final stages with awarding of the tender to hopefully occur by the end of the month. This will result in Kilcoy Hospital having a 60kW solar photovoltaic (PV) system being installed in the coming year. The system size will not allow Kilcoy Hospital to be 100 per cent powered by solar, however is estimated to offset Kilcoy’s energy consumption by 96,360 kiloWatt hours (kWh) and 72.9 tonnes CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent) emissions annually.

Metro North Health Sustainable Assets and Infrastructure Project Officer Drew Button said renewable energy such as solar photovoltaics (PV) was crucial to reducing our carbon footprint and increasing climate change resilience of our facilities.

“Queensland Health contributes around 60 per cent of the State Government’s total generated CO2 emissions, with Metro North Health being the largest Hospital and Health Service and biggest contributor,” Drew said.

“As a result, Metro North Health has made a commitment to become a leader in sustainability in healthcare and renewables such as solar PV, which are key to delivering energy and emission reductions.”

In the coming year, Metro North Health also aims to install solar PV systems at seven COH sites at Nundah, Strathpine, Aspley, Keperra, Red Hill, North Lakes and Brighton.

Drew said the whole solar PV rollout is estimated to save Metro North around one million+ kWh and more than 823 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually, with significant reduction in energy bills.

The solar upgrade will be funded from the Queensland Health Emission Reduction Fund that was set up in response to the Queensland Health’s Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction 10 Year Plan (2020-2030).

Drew said solar PV integration is an important part of Metro North Health Sustainable Design Guidelines and identified in the ‘Green Metro North – Sustainability Strategy 2021-2026’ document, where energy was one of the six key focus areas.

“These pillars also include waste, water, transport, food and procurement,” Drew said.

“The introduction of solar PV also aligns with Metro North Sustainable Design Guidelines that states solar PV is to be maximised throughout Metro North Health buildings and facilities.”

The renewable energy upgrades will contribute to the efforts needed to combat climate change, increase energy security and improve the sustainability of the Metro North healthcare system.