BESS for hospitals: electrical continuity and energy efficiency

A BESS (Battery Energy Storage System) is an advanced solution for hospitals that goes beyond simple electrical backup. It provides uninterrupted power continuity, which is essential for protecting vital equipment and ensuring patient safety. At the same time, it enables intelligent energy management, reducing the high costs associated with peak demand and off-peak electricity rates. The BESS from Grupo Industronic not only guarantees operational reliability, but also offers a financial model with an estimated return on investment (ROI) of 3 years, turning fixed energy costs into a profitable investment.

In places such as hospitals, diagnostic centers, or highly specialized clinics, electrical energy is an invaluable asset and is not considered an operating cost, but rather a vital input. That is why, in events such as blackouts due to natural disasters or multiple equipment shutdowns due to power supply failures, energy storage systems (BESS) are the best technological solution as they guarantee electrical continuity, promote energy efficiency, and reduce other operating costs.

Imagine for a moment an operating room in full swing or an intensive care unit (ICU) with patients dependent on ventilators and vital sign monitors. A power outage, however brief, could not only put patients’ lives at risk, but also damage ultra-sensitive equipment, resulting in high corrective maintenance costs or the need to reschedule procedures.

Traditionally, hospitals have emergency power plants (usually diesel generators) to provide extended backup power in the event of a power outage, but this equipment falls short of the immediacy, efficiency, and control offered by a BESS system. This equipment not only ensures instantaneous continuity of supply, but also enables intelligent energy management, which is key to the profitability of these vital infrastructures.

What is a BESS?

A Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) is a technology that allows electrical energy to be stored for later use. Thanks to their internal components, and in particular their energy management software (EMS), these BESSs function as a large “smart battery” that can be charged from the grid or from solar panels.

This stored energy can be used to supply electricity to a hospital during a power outage or to optimize consumption during times of high rates. In other words, its main role is to store energy during periods of lower cost and release it when energy is more expensive or when a power outage occurs. It allows for completely flexible energy consumption.

Learn more about: The internal technology of a BESS and how it works

Importance of a BESS in hospitals

A BESS for hospitals is important because it ensures uninterrupted electrical continuity, preventing failures in elevators, HVAC systems, sensitive equipment such as MRI machines and CT scanners, and in areas such as operating rooms and ICUs, among others.

While emergency power plants have been the standard in medical settings, their start-up time and dependence on fossil fuels make them less efficient and more polluting to the environment. In contrast, the instantaneous response time (in milliseconds), modular storage, sustainability, and efficiency of a BESS position it as the ideal cutting-edge solution for the medical environment.

In addition, this technology is also integrated as a pillar of the hospital’s financial strategy to proactively manage its energy costs. In Mexico, large consumers (such as hospitals) are subject to hourly rates by the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) that vary in cost depending on the time of day: Base from 12:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. (cheapest: $0.8 MXN/kWh), Intermediate from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ($1.50 MXN/kWh), and Peak from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (most expensive: $2.5 MXN/kWh).

This is where BESS allows energy to be managed to generate savings of around 35% on the hospital’s electricity bill. Thanks to Industronic’s intelligent control software (EMS), the batteries are instructed on when to charge and discharge energy to maximize economic and operational benefits. This allows the hospital to use cheap, clean energy to avoid blackouts, have extended backups, and generate savings on its energy costs.

Specific benefits of BESS in healthcare environments

The implementation of a BESS in a hospital translates into multiple operational and financial benefits, among which the main ones are:

1. Savings and efficiency: by applying load shifting and peak shaving strategies in medical buildings or facilities, a hospital can achieve savings of more than 35% on its energy bill. This frees up budget for other areas, such as the purchase of medical equipment or the improvement of facilities.
   • Load shifting: This strategy consists of charging the BESS batteries during off-peak hours when rates are lower and using that stored energy during peak hours when rates are higher. The same amount of energy is consumed, but at a lower cost.
   • Peak shaving: the BESS, previously charged with cheap energy, is discharged during peak hours, which are the most expensive, thus cutting the peak demand. This allows the CFE capacity charge to be controlled, generating savings.
2. Demand control: when a hospital has demand peaks above the contracted demand, this can be managed with the BESS. Industronic’s EMS analyzes when it can be charged (within the contracted block) and discharges when it detects a peak that would be above the contracted demand. In this way, the hospital can continue to operate normally, avoiding penalties for exceeding the contracted demand.
3. Energy optimization: A BESS allows for better use of renewable sources such as solar panels, for example, by storing surpluses for nighttime use and reducing dependence on the unstable grid.
4. Resilience to extreme weather events: In areas with high seismic exposure or hurricanes, the extended autonomy of the BESS system can be the difference between maintaining or interrupting critical services.

Grupo Industronic solutions for hospitals

Focused on delivering solutions that improve the quality of the power supply and energy efficiency, Grupo Industronic offers several alternatives with state-of-the-art equipment. For hospitals, the main technologies are:

• BESS: these operate with high-energy-density batteries and highly reliable EMS, capable of being configured for backup times ranging from minutes to several hours, while also generating energy savings. The modular design allows the system’s capacity to be adapted to the energy needs of each hospital and scaled up in the future if there is an increase in consumption. In addition to having an information visualization platform where the hospital can see its consumption, savings, and all the site’s power quality information (power factor, voltage, harmonics, compliance with the grid code).
• UPS: These systems ensure that, even during maintenance or an unforeseen event, the hospital’s operational capacity is at full capacity, without any downtime that could put patients’ lives at risk. It also provides immediate backup in the event of a power outage, acting as immediate protection (complementing the BESS).
• Voltage regulators: Voltage variations can be harmful to sensitive medical equipment. The Industronic series of AVR electronic regulators offers reliable and durable protection. Their design allows them to continue operating, even while maintenance or repair work is being carried out.

Among other value-added solutions provided by Grupo Industronic, the following are noteworthy:

• Solar systems: solar panels to generate clean energy and generate more savings on electricity bills.
• Solar-BESS hybrid systems: by integrating solar panels with storage, the savings on bills are much greater. In addition to having a greater positive environmental impact.
• Specialized technical support: installation in compact spaces and support throughout the system’s 20-year lifespan.
• Flexible financial models: direct purchase with a 3-year ROI or financial leasing where monthly payments are covered by the electricity savings themselves (the BESS pays for itself).
• Sustainable approach: integration with renewable energies and compliance with Mexico’s energy transition strategies.

Frequently asked questions about BESS for hospitals

How long can a BESS back up a hospital?

The length of time a BESS can supply a hospital or robust medical facility can vary depending on the hospital’s needs. Since BESS are modular systems, more or fewer modules can be added as needed, making projects “tailor-made” for each hospital. Backup can be provided from 2 hours to as long as needed, with no maximum limit.

What is the difference between BESS and a traditional UPS?

Unlike a UPS, which provides backup for minutes, BESS is designed to supply power for hours, adapting to the critical operation of a hospital. In addition, UPS works for critical equipment, while BESS can supply the entire hospital’s consumption. However, it is important to understand that they are not competitors, but rather complementary technologies that can work together to create automatic backups (without any transfer) for very long periods of time. All projects are adaptable to the needs of each medical facility, and at Industronic we use our experience and our systems to offer the best solution for each client.