The Boston Medical Center, New England's busiest trauma and emergency services center, installed a 572 kW, 1,271 kWh battery storage system manufactured by Tesla. The system is connected to the hospital's 480 V chiller switchboard. A battery storage installation at Boston Medical Center demonstrates how hospitals can integrate energy storage into an efficiency or sustainability program to better manage peak demand and lower costly demand charges. Things like home oxygen machines, nebulizers for asthma and refrigerators to. The battery system is expected to earn $80,000 per year by providing energy to the local utility during peak summer demand periods, while saving $57,000 per year by reducing the hospital's own monthly and annual peak consumption.
The initiative aims to help roughly 80 patients with complex, chronic medical needs keep the lights on. The program relies on 519 solar panels installed on the roof of one of the hospital's office buildings. Half of the energy generated by the panels helps power Boston Medical Center.
The program relies on 519 solar panels installed on the roof of one of the hospital's office buildings. Half of the energy generated by the panels helps power Boston Medical Center. The rest goes to patients who receive a monthly credit of about $50 on their utility bills. Kiki Polk was among the first recipients.
The solar array on the rooftop of a Boston Medical Center building provides power for the building as well as credits for the Clean Power Prescription program.
Boston Medical Center officials estimate the project cost $1.6 million, and said 60% of the funding came from the federal Inflation Reduction Act. Biggio has already mapped out plans for an additional $11 million in solar installations at the Boston Medical Center. "Our goal is to scale this pilot and help a lot more patients," he said.