20 December 2023
The Champalimaud Foundation aims to be the first healthcare institution worldwide to consume 100% renewable energy within five years.
After signing an agreement with Philips with the aim of halving its CO2 emissions, the Champalimaud Foundation is now partnering with the Greenvolt Group to achieve carbon neutrality. Utilising the energy generated by the solar panels at the Champalimaud Center for the Unknown, along with the energy shared by other Greenvolt communities, the institution will become the first healthcare facility in the world to exclusively consume clean energy.
Through Greenvolt Comunidades, a Greenvolt Group company, a Renewable Energy Community with a solar irradiation energy generation capacity of 861 kWp will be established at the Champalimaud Foundation. By installing 1,580 solar panels on the roof of the Champalimaud Clinical Center, without any visual impact, it will be possible to achieve an annual production of 1,437 MWh of entirely clean energy, thus avoiding the annual emission of more than 380 tons of CO2.
"The Champalimaud Foundation, renowned for its excellence in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases, is committed to leaving a lasting impact on society by enhancing the overall quality of life," states João Manso Neto, CEO of the Greenvolt Group. "Taking concrete steps in this direction, Greenvolt Comunidades will propel the institution forward in the journey towards carbon neutrality," he adds.
In addition to the energy generated by the solar panels installed at the Clinical Centre, the Foundation will also benefit from clean and cost-effective energy produced by other Greenvolt communities within a radius of approximately 4 km. Consequently, within the next five years, the institution aims to become the world's first to achieve 100% clean energy consumption. "Greenvolt Comunidades, responsible for installation, operation, and maintenance, will also attract new producer members who will share energy with the Foundation," emphasises José Queirós de Almeida, CEO of Greenvolt Comunidades.
"As an institution dedicated to health promotion and patient care, we are vigilant in ensuring our activities align with our mission," notes Leonor Beleza, President of the Champalimaud Foundation. "This partnership with the Greenvolt Group is a significant stride towards reducing our emissions to zero, positioning us as an example of sustainability in the healthcare sector," she concludes.
