Two new generators mean Taranaki Base Hospital will stay connected if its main electrical supply is cut or disrupted.
The two new 1.8 megavolt-ampere (MVa) generators have been installed in the hospital’s new purpose-built energy centre, which can run for 72 hours before refuelling.
Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora Taranaki emergency management lead Cameron Grant-Fargie said the generators have been tested and are all set to kick into gear and restore power to the hospital within seconds, ensuring all clinical services can continue as normal with more power capacity than the campus needs to operate.
“It’s great news for the province to have the Taranaki Base Hospital energy centre up and running. It has been designed and built specifically to improve the overall resilience of the hospital’s campus-wide infrastructure and ensure a power supply to the hospital is always maintained, even in the event of a volcanic eruption. Considering there is a 50 per cent chance Taranaki Maunga will erupt within the next 50 years, it’s something we need to be prepared for.”
The commissioning of the energy centre has involved years of planning and collaboration from the whole Project Maunga Team, including Leighs Construction, Wells Instrument and Electrical, and the hospital’s on-site engineering team.