At the request of Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg (ZOL), Ingenium studied the desired main electrical infrastructure of the Sint-Jan hospital campus in Genk.

The hospital plans a significant number of new buildings on campus, and also expects a large increase in necessary electrical demand due to major electrification of heat production, kitchens, steam production,... and local renewable energy production. Therefore, ZOL wanted a review of the vision for Fluvius' electrical grid connections, the head-end station and its topology, the emergency generators and infrastructure, the distribution loops, and the substations and their implantation. The operational reliability of the power supplies, crucial for a hospital, played a very important role in this. Pros and cons were weighed for a number of scenarios.

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In addition, we investigated the possibilities of offering R3 grid flexibility services with this proposed infrastructure, and the associated revenue models. The proposed concept foresees a direct connection to Fluvius' grid through which the hospital will enjoy reduced distribution network tariffs. These reduced distribution network tariffs are a very important lever for the climate transition towards a fossil-free and carbon-neutral hospital.

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Because of the combination of reduced distribution grid costs and the flexibility income, the TCO of the proposed investment is positive. This necessary replacement investment will not only pay for itself over its lifetime, but will also allow the hospital to eventually become fossil-free in a cost-effective manner. Moreover, this will be done with greatly increased reliability of the electrical infrastructure and, upon completion, ZOL will have emergency power for the entire campus.  

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