Meridiam and Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust launch strategic partnership to accelerate decarbonisation and modernise energy systems in healthcare facilities

Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and Meridiam have announced a strategic Public-Private Partnership that will support the delivery of low-carbon, resilient and sustainable energy infrastructure solutions that will modernise the Trust’s estate.

The first-of-its-kind energy partnership is aimed at addressing the critical need to upgrade ageing infrastructure, tackle rising energy costs, and reduce carbon emissions across the NHS estate. Meridiam and its partners will design, finance and deliver upgrades to energy systems, and help to implement projects that improve the reliability of energy supply, lower energy consumption and reduce carbon emissions. The partnership will require no upfront investment from the NHS, allowing the Trust to preserve vital resources for patient care.

The first project under the partnership will deliver a new, more efficient low-carbon heating and energy system at St Thomas’ Hospital in South London, replacing outdated infrastructure. It will also involve Meridiam’s partner, Dalkia Energy Services, one of the leading technical and energy services providers. The energy improvements being delivered at St Thomas’ Hospital will make a direct contribution to the NHS’s wider net zero ambitions.

The partnership also aims to establish a scalable and replicable model to support other NHS Trusts and public bodies in southeast London that are seeking to accelerate their own infrastructure transformation and decarbonisation programmes. Future projects will include improving building energy efficiency, modernising energy networks within the hospital estate and replacing fossil-fuel heating systems with low-carbon alternatives.

Andrew Asbury, Executive Director of Estates, Facilities and Capital Development at Guy’s and St Thomas’, said: “Upgrading our energy infrastructure significantly enhances our resilience and ability to deliver critical healthcare services, reducing the likelihood of unplanned outages that impact patient care. Modern systems are also more energy and resource efficient, leading to long-term savings in utility spend and ongoing operational costs. By not allocating the Trust’s capital to this project and leveraging private sector investment, our funds can be prioritised for capital expenditure in clinical services. There are environmental as well as economic benefits too. Improved local air quality and a reduced carbon footprint contribute to healthier communities in the areas we serve.”

Thierry Déau, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Meridiam, said: “We are proud to support Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust in delivering concrete and innovative healthcare infrastructure projects. Together, we aim to develop scalable solutions that contribute to the decarbonisation of hospitals, improve operational performance and deliver long-term benefits for patients, staff and the wider community.”

Image rights: Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation