Australian manufacturer and contractor Automatic Heating has supplied eight air-to-water Revere CHP-80Y2 CO2 (R744) hot water heat pumps to support an all-electric expansion at Frankston Hospital in southeast Melbourne.
The AU$1.1 billion (US$700 million/€600 million) redevelopment ‒ powered by 100% renewable energy ‒ includes a new 12-story clinical tower with 130 beds, 15 operating rooms and space for expanded women’s and children’s services.
“Hospitals are traditionally reliant on natural gas, with about 40% of their energy use coming from this non-renewable resource,” said Healthy Futures, an Australian network. “Frankston Hospital will set a new standard for reducing emissions and environmental impact by going all-electric.”
The installation: Automatic Heating mounted the hot water systems onto prefabricated skids for crane placement in the new tower’s plant rooms on levels 5 and 13.
- Each of the eight heat pumps provides 80kW (22.8TR) of heating capacity.
- The CO2 units produce up to 90°C (194°F) hot water in ambient temperatures between −5 and 43°C (23 and 109.4°F), with a COP of up to 4.2.
Japanese partner: Automatic Heating designs and builds natural heat pump systems, including those with propane (R290) refrigerant. However, under the Revere brand, it also distributes the CHP-80Y heat pump water heater in Australia for Japanese manufacturer Itomic.
Victorian focus: According to Healthy Futures, the Victoria state government has committed to using solely renewable electricity in “all of its operations” starting in 2025.
- The facility is installing nearly 1,600 solar panels on the roof and surrounding buildings, reducing carbon emissions by 4,100 metric tons annually.
- The health service organization managing Frankston, Peninsula Health, expects the retrofit to reduce its energy use by 23% across all sites, which includes the Golf Links Road Rehabilitation Center, Mornington Center and Rosebud Hospital.
- The state also offers financial incentives for residential, commercial and industrial energy-efficient hot water system upgrades.
Quotable: “These natural refrigerant heat pumps provide an ultra-efficient, low-emissions solution,” Automatic Heating said. “[We are] proud to contribute to a project that reflects the future of healthcare: smart, sustainable, and community-focused.”
“These natural refrigerant heat pumps provide an ultra-efficient, low-emissions solution.”
Automatic Heating
