The Andalusian Health Service (SAS) allocates €128.8 million to actions in 40 centers to promote energy efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions in its facilities, and another €120 million to promote renewable energies for which it has already received 318 projects from both Primary Care and Hospital Centers.
These projects stem from two specific objectives outlined in the Strategic Integrated Environmental Management Plan of the Andalusian Health Service Horizon 2030 (PEGAI) presented by the Minister of Health and Consumption, Rocío Hernández, and funded by European funds from the ERDF: Operational Program 2021-27, as well as €32 million from the Program to Promote the Rehabilitation of Public Buildings in the Communities and Autonomous Cities (PIREP).
The measures to improve the energy efficiency of the centers estimate savings in annual consumption of non-renewable primary energy exceeding 85,000 MWh/year, resulting in energy savings in the centers where action is taken of around 40%, with an annual reduction in CO2 emissions reaching 15,000 tons eq CO2/year, a 45% reduction in percentage terms.
Likewise, previous studies indicate that the implementation of the planned photovoltaic solar installations could provide an annual energy production above 80,000 MWh/year, with an installed capacity of around 50 MW, resulting in a reduction of CO2 emissions exceeding 35,000 tons eq CO2/year, «which represents a significant achievement that contributes to a cleaner and more sustainable energy future,» stated Antonio Olivares, Deputy Director of Services and Center Management at the SAS General Directorate of Economic Management and Services.
Notably, the SAS accounts for approximately 40% of the electricity consumption of the Andalusian Government, with over 400 GWh, and gas consumption exceeds 230 GWh. However, 100% of the electricity in all SAS centers has a renewable origin certificate.
These data, along with the carbon footprint ranging from 11,924 tons CO2 eq per year (greenhouse gases) at the Virgen de las Nieves University Hospital to 3,988 at the Virgen Macarena University Hospital, according to measurements from 2023, and the generation of over 3,300 tons per year of hazardous waste, of which over 2,000 are infectious waste, with an annual expenditure of €4.5 million on waste management and approximately €1.6 million in fees for municipal waste management, have led to the development of this Strategic Plan that «once again positions Andalusia as a leader in the path towards a more sustainable healthcare, for a healthier future for all Andalusians and future generations,» valued Rocío Hernández.
Certificate of integral management
The Minister highlighted that 22 public healthcare centers in Andalusia have renewed certification under the international ISO 50001 standard for their comprehensive energy management system until 2027. Specifically, the Alto Guadalquivir Hospital, Costa del Sol Hospital, Infanta Elena Hospital, Torrecárdenas Hospital, Clínico San Cecilio, Jaén University Hospital, Poniente Hospital, Juan Ramón Jiménez Hospital, Puerta del Mar Hospital, Puerto Real Hospital, Málaga Regional Hospital, Reina Sofía Hospital, Virgen de las Nieves Hospital, Osuna Health Management Area, East Málaga Axarquía Health Management Area, Jerez Health Management Area, Northwest Coast and Sierra de Cádiz Health Management Area; Northeast Jaén Health Management Area, North Málaga Health Management Area, Serranía de Málaga Health Management Area, South Seville Health Management Area, Macarena Hospital Area, and North Córdoba Health Area have once again achieved this certificate, which «endorses our commitment to environmental care and energy management in the provision of healthcare services, both in healthcare and non-healthcare activities.»
The Minister of Health and Consumption, recalling that the public healthcare system in Andalusia was the first public healthcare system in Spain to have a comprehensive environmental management system certified according to the international ISO 14001 standard for all its centers, emphasized that «the health of the planet is the health of all. Our environment influences our health, and all our actions have an impact on our surroundings.» For this reason, she added, «our goal is to care for the health of Andalusians, leaving only the necessary mark on their bodies and memories, but without a carbon footprint, with proper waste and energy management, contributing to combating climate change.»
Thus, she detailed, this plan aims to reduce the impact of SAS operations on the environment by promoting decarbonization and fostering the use of renewable energies. It also aims to achieve a healthcare service more resilient to the effects of climate change, working to adapt to its inherent risks.
«With this plan, we also move towards an increasingly decarbonized energy model, committed to contributing to mitigating climate change, increasing savings, and enhancing the use of secure renewable energies, conducting comprehensive and efficient waste management, using water as a limited resource, leveraging its purchasing potential to promote environmental sustainability in the value chain of the products and services it consumes, promoting sustainable mobility, sensitizing and training its professionals, and leading in environmental innovation,» added Hernández.
Strategic objectives and areas of interest
Alongside the SAS General Manager, Valle García, and Antonio Olivares, the Minister, accompanied by the Deputy Minister of Health and Consumption, María Luisa del Moral, detailed the ten strategic objectives of the plan, which include not only minimizing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting the adoption of renewable energy sources but also establishing efficient and sustainable waste management, addressing all types of waste generated in SAS facilities; and promoting sustainable mobility to reduce transport emissions and minimize air quality impact. The PEGAI also aims to improve energy efficiency in SAS facilities and operations, as well as enhance water consumption efficiency in healthcare processes and facilities.
Among the objectives are also promoting the procurement of sustainable goods and services throughout the value chain; fostering innovation, public-private collaboration, and collaboration with universities and other public entities to find sustainable solutions in the healthcare field; promoting awareness and training in sustainability throughout the organization, on the environmentally identified areas of interest; encouraging transparency and participation in the implementation of the PEGAI; and establishing a measurement and monitoring system to evaluate the environmental performance of the SAS, to understand the evolution of the environmental variables that impact us and make informed decisions.
With the horizon set for 2030 and aiming to provide a clearer and more concise view of the issues raised in the energy and environmental fields, this PEGAI-SAS H2030 revolves around eight major areas of interest: awareness and training, strategic public procurement, waste management and circular economy, sustainable resource use, sustainable mobility, promoting environmentally sustainable restoration, environmental performance measurement, innovation, and collaboration with society; with clear objectives to «advance towards energy self-sufficiency and optimize the carbon and water footprint, as I mentioned, reducing the environmental impact of healthcare center activities,» concluded the Minister.