Aneurin Bevan University Health Board and Vital Energi Deliver £8m Carbon Reduction Programme

Aneurin Bevan University Health Board (ABUHB) has partnered with Vital Energi to deliver an £8m energy efficiency programme across six sites, supporting its goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2030.

ABUHB is delivering an £8m carbon reduction programme in partnership with Vital Energi, targeting energy upgrades across six hospitals including Nevill Hall, Grange University, and Royal Gwent. The programme supports Welsh Government’s 2030 net zero targets.

Client requirements

As part of its commitment to the Welsh Government’s 2030 carbon neutral public sector target, ABUHB needed to identify a delivery partner capable of accelerating decarbonisation across its hospital estate. The programme needed to reduce carbon emissions, improve energy efficiency, and offer guaranteed cost savings across a mix of acute, community, and specialist healthcare facilities.

How we supported the client

Working collaboratively, Aneurin Bevan UHB and Vital Energi developed a robust and forward-looking £8 million capital investment programme, focused on reducing energy consumption and lowering carbon emissions across six key NHS sites:

• Nevill Hall Hospital
• Grange University Hospital
• Royal Gwent Hospital
• Serennu Children’s Centre
• St Woolos Community Hospital
• Chepstow Community Hospital

The proposed programme of works included:

• LED lighting upgrades
• Insulation of pipework systems to reduce heat loss
• Replacement of inefficient fans within Air Handling Units
• Upgrades to the Building Management System (BMS), targeting heating and cooling performance
• Installation of over 280kW of roof-mounted solar PV and 720kW of solar PV on car ports

These interventions were tailored to each site’s infrastructure, balancing rapid carbon savings with long-term operational performance and resilience.

The impact

The energy and carbon reduction measures are expected to deliver:

• 7.8% annual cost savings
• 5.1% annual carbon savings

Beyond financial savings, the programme supports the Health Board’s strategic sustainability goals and contributes to NHS Wales’ collective progress toward net zero.

Jamie Marchant, Divisional Director of Estates and Facilities at Aneurin Bevan UHB, said:

Working with Vital Energi has accelerated the scale and pace of work we’ve been able to do toward achieving our net zero ambitions and securing guaranteed energy savings.

This project marks a significant milestone in the Health Board’s transition to a lower-carbon, more sustainable estate – showcasing the power of strategic partnerships and the Re:fit framework in unlocking impactful energy solutions across the public sector.