Aviva bankrolls £15m NHS energy centre in Dundee

Asset management firm Aviva Investors has announced a new £15.4m commitment - partly funded by the UK Green Investment Bank (GIB) - to create a new energy efficiency programme and centre at NHS Tayside in Dundee.


The investment will see the construction of a new energy centre at Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, which will provide 90% of the power and 100% of the heat in the hospital.

Commenting on the investment, Scotland Office Minister Andrew Dunlop said: “This is an extremely welcome announcement as it combines enlightened investment with energy efficiency and the best of Scottish innovation.

“This centre will make a real difference to the costs of providing energy to hospitals in Tayside and is another example of UK institutional investors supporting infrastructure projects which will be of benefit to the wider public.”

Aviva Investors made the investment through its ‘REaLM’ infrastructure funds on behalf of clients – including GIB – which is investing £7.7m in the project.

Sustainable care

It is believed that, once the project is fully operational by December next year, it will cut energy costs at NHS Tayside by 10%.

Mark Anderson, head of property at NHS Tayside, said: “This project is designed to make our hospital sites more energy efficient and enhance the service and environment for the patients and staff of NHS Tayside.

“It fits clearly with our strategic theme of delivering high-quality care in the right place through safer, effective, resilient and sustainable services.”

LED lighting and insulation will be installed at the Perth Royal Infirmary and Stracathro Hospital near Brechin as part of the broader efficiency programme project.

Big spenders

On top of this, a 25-year performance contract has also been signed with Vital Energi under the Carbon Energy Fund framework. This will see Vital Energi oversee the construction, installation and continuous maintenance of the technology for the duration of the contract.

The new investment forms part of Aviva’s pledge to invest £500m every year for five years in renewable energy and energy efficiency. It was also announced this week that Aviva Investors had formed around three quarters of a new £352bn investment collation that is striving to push for clean energy.

Matt Mace

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