Rooftop solar thermal driven absorption chillers for hospital

Echuca Regional Health operates rooftop solar thermal fields supplying energy for space cooling and heating services.

The use of solar thermal energy provides the site with operational flexibility to reduce marginal costs for hospital energy use.

Did you know that solar thermal fields are up to 70% more efficient than photovoltaic (PV) cells?

Tri-Gen Chiller Services maintain the 500kW Broad and 1500 Kw Thermax absorption chillers which are powered by this solar energy.

This energy is provided to Two 200kL Chilled Water storage tanks at 6°C which provide a buffer and acts as a ‘cold battery’ for operation of the hospital space cooling system.

Electric chillers can also operate at night-time during off-peak conditions to charge the cold battery when required.

It has been amazing to be involved in such an innovative project and Tri-Gen hopes to see others following in the footsteps of ERH.