Umair Gaines
California's hospitals are vulnerable to the state's increasing number of weather-related power outages. While some hospitals have backup generators, others are exploring renewable energy sources and microgrids to ensure a guaranteed source of energy. For example, East County Hospital in San Diego has cut costs and emissions by using a cogeneration power plant, while remaining connected to California's grid as a backup. Kaiser Permanente has also launched a renewable energy microgrid at its Ontario Medical Center in Southern California, which will provide clean and reliable power, as well as serve as an emergency backup system.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Electricity dependency | Hospitals depend on electricity to function normally. |
| Power outages | California has experienced power outages, which can be dangerous for patients. |
| Backup generators | Some hospitals have backup generators in case of power outages. |
| Special connections | Large hospitals may have their own high-voltage feeders from local zone substations, with multiple feeders from different substations to ensure reliability. |
| Renewable energy | Some hospitals, like Kaiser Permanente, are transitioning to renewable energy microgrids, combining solar power generation and battery storage. |
| Cost savings | Hospitals with renewable energy microgrids can save costs by reducing their reliance on external electricity sources. |
| Environmental impact | Hospitals are phasing out major pollutants and transitioning to carbon neutrality and net-zero emissions. |
| Natural gas reliance | Hospitals currently rely on natural gas as a guaranteed source of energy, but there is a push to move away from fossil fuels. |
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What You'll Learn
California hospitals' fragile power systems
California's hospitals are facing challenges due to the state's fragile power systems, which have been exposed by recent blackouts and outages. The issue is not unique to California, but the state's dry climate and increasing frequency of wildfires have brought it into sharp focus. The United States healthcare system relies heavily on electricity to function, from powering medical equipment like ventilators to maintaining electronic health records and refrigeration for medications.
The impact of power outages on hospitals and patient care can be significant. For example, during an outage, hospitals may have to prioritize which areas receive power, potentially leaving some patients in the dark or affecting the storage of medications that require refrigeration, such as insulin. In addition, hospitals may be overwhelmed by an influx of patients who rely on electricity at home to maintain their health, such as those on ventilators or dialysis.
To mitigate the impact of power outages, California hospitals are required by law to have backup generators and enough diesel fuel to run for at least 72 hours without electricity. These generators kick in within seconds of a power shut-off, ensuring that critical functions can continue uninterrupted. However, even with generators, hospital administrators must make difficult decisions about which services are essential and which can be temporarily discontinued.
Some hospitals in California are exploring alternative power sources to reduce their reliance on the grid and improve energy efficiency. For example, one hospital in East County uses cogeneration to capture and utilize heat that would otherwise be lost, reducing both costs and emissions. While hospitals present a challenge to a future without fossil fuels, solutions like cogeneration and renewable energy sources can help balance the need for a guaranteed energy source with environmental sustainability.
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Hospitals' high electricity dependency
Hospitals are highly dependent on electricity to function normally. They require power for essential tasks such as ventilators, electronic health records, elevators, and medication refrigeration. In California, power outages have highlighted the vulnerability of the healthcare system, with hospitals scrambling to relocate medications and reschedule appointments.
The high electricity dependency of hospitals has significant implications. Firstly, reliable electricity access is crucial for ensuring patient safety and providing essential medical services. Power outages can put patients at risk, especially those relying on electrically powered equipment such as ventilators. Additionally, hospitals require electricity for basic services such as lighting, communications, and clean water supply.
To address electricity needs, hospitals in California have implemented various strategies. Some hospitals have their own high-voltage feeders from local zone substations, often with multiple feeders to ensure redundancy. Additionally, hospitals may have backup generators to provide temporary power during outages. While some hospitals remain connected to California's grid, others have invested in off-grid solutions, such as cogeneration plants, to reduce costs and increase energy independence.
The World Health Organization (WHO) plays a vital role in supporting countries to ensure reliable electricity access for healthcare facilities. They provide knowledge and tools to understand energy access and needs, build capacity for identifying suitable energy solutions, and advocate for high-level coordination and resource mobilization. WHO's efforts are crucial in strengthening the energy infrastructure of healthcare facilities worldwide.
Hospitals are exploring ways to reduce their electricity consumption and costs. Energy audits, demand management, regular maintenance of HVAC systems, automation, lighting upgrades, and efficient design are some strategies hospitals employ to optimize their energy usage and reduce their environmental footprint. Additionally, hospitals can negotiate lower prices in deregulated electricity markets and work with energy brokers to obtain the best rates.
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Hospitals' emergency backup systems
The complexity of modern healthcare facilities, with multiple buildings and departments, adds to the challenge of providing dependable backup power. Hospitals may have different power requirements for various areas, such as administrative functions, critical care units, and operating rooms. Therefore, hospitals may need multiple emergency power solutions, including backup generators and Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) systems.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provides a guide for medical care facilities' emergency planning, emphasizing the need for multiple power solutions. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) also offers guidelines, classifying hospitals as critical facilities and mandating that backup power to life-critical equipment be restored within 10 seconds of disruption. Additionally, hospitals must have enough fuel on-site to run emergency systems for 96 hours, though this duration can vary based on location and generator class.
Some hospitals use propane backup systems, which offer reliable and immediate responses to power loss, ensuring continuity in patient care and hospital functions. Propane generators can run longer due to their high energy density and are valuable when renewable energy sources are insufficient or limited. Other fuel sources for hospital backup generators include diesel and natural gas.
In California, hospitals are addressing the state's fragile power system and increasing outages due to climate change and extreme weather. While California aims to be carbon neutral by 2045, hospitals face challenges in transitioning away from natural gas due to the need for a guaranteed energy source. Some hospitals in California have implemented off-grid power solutions, such as cogeneration, to reduce costs and emissions while maintaining a connection to the grid for backup.
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Hospitals' use of natural gas
Hospitals are large, energy-intensive buildings that require a constant and reliable source of electricity to function normally. In California, hospitals are connected to the state's power grid, with some facilities having access to more than one electric utility substation feed or source. However, California's power grid is vulnerable to outages, which can have severe consequences for hospitals and their patients.
The use of natural gas plays an essential role in the healthcare industry, providing a reliable and affordable source of energy for hospitals. According to the American Gas Association (AGA), natural gas is critical to keeping hospitals open and serving patients, particularly in rural areas with limited resources. Natural gas is approximately one-third the cost of electricity, resulting in significant cost savings for hospitals.
In the case of power outages, natural gas has kept the lights on and equipment operating in hospitals. Montefiore Hospital in New York City, for instance, was the only hospital with power during the Great Northeast Blackout of 2003 due to its natural gas combined heat and power system. Since then, over 200 hospitals have adopted similar systems.
Natural gas is commonly used in hospitals for space heating, water heating, and cooking. In 2007, 74% of large hospitals used natural gas as their main space heating fuel, and 74% used it for water heating. Additionally, natural gas and electricity were the most common cooking fuels in 95% of hospital buildings that reported cooking activities.
While there are efforts to reduce the use of natural gas in California, hospitals present a unique challenge due to their high energy demands and the need for a guaranteed source of energy. As of 2023, there are no all-electric inpatient healthcare facilities in the United States, and a complete transition away from natural gas in hospitals is not expected anytime soon.
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Hospitals' transition to clean energy
California is in the midst of a rapid transition towards clean energy, driven by the urgent need to address the escalating risks posed by climate change. This shift involves maximizing efficiency, electrifying energy use, and leveraging carbon-free electricity to foster a more prosperous, equitable, and healthy future for the state. As part of this transition, hospitals in California are also embracing clean energy sources and exploring innovative solutions to enhance sustainability and resilience.
Kaiser Permanente, a prominent healthcare organization in California, has been at the forefront of the state's transition to clean energy. In April 2025, Kaiser Permanente unveiled the largest hospital-based renewable energy microgrid system in the United States at its Ontario Medical Center in Southern California. This microgrid system integrates 2 megawatts of on-site solar generation and 9 megawatt-hours of non-lithium battery storage capacity, with the ability to provide up to 10 continuous hours of emergency power. The microgrid not only improves the hospital's energy independence and reduces costs but also contributes to California's goal of transitioning to 100% renewable energy by 2045.
Kaiser Permanente's commitment to sustainability extends beyond the Ontario Medical Center. They have installed solar arrays at 118 of their sites and are actively expanding battery storage capabilities. Additionally, two new Kaiser hospitals under construction in San Jose and Sacramento will incorporate on-site solar power production and battery storage. Kaiser has also pledged to achieve net-zero emissions across all operations by 2050, with a mid-term target of reducing emissions by 50% by 2030.
Other hospitals in California are also transitioning to clean energy. For example, East County Hospital in San Diego utilizes an off-grid machine that harnesses cogeneration technology to capture and use heat, reducing emissions and cutting costs. While hospitals present unique challenges due to their significant energy requirements, the state is committed to finding solutions that balance environmental sustainability with the critical need for uninterrupted power in healthcare facilities.
As California continues to navigate the complexities of its energy transition, hospitals play a pivotal role in this transformation. By adopting renewable energy sources and innovative technologies, hospitals are not only reducing their environmental footprint but also enhancing their energy resilience. This dual benefit underscores the importance of collaboration between energy providers and healthcare facilities to ensure a seamless transition to a cleaner, more sustainable future for California.
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Frequently asked questions
No, California hospitals are not on a special electricity grid. However, some hospitals in California have their own high-voltage feeders from local zone substations, with some having two or three feeders from different substations to avoid being reliant on a single source. Some hospitals in California have also started using renewable energy microgrids, with solar arrays and battery storage, to provide clean and reliable power and to reduce their environmental impact.
Hospitals rely on electricity to power medical equipment such as ventilators, electronic health records, elevators, and refrigerators for storing medications. Power outages can therefore be dangerous for patients and can cause hospitals to become overwhelmed as people who rely on electricity for their health care at home may need to turn to hospitals.
Sharp Grossmont Hospital in eastern La Mesa is powered by a cogeneration plant that uses natural gas, with backup generators in case the plant and the grid both go down. Kaiser Permanente has also launched a renewable energy microgrid at its Ontario Medical Center in Southern California, with a solar array and battery storage system to provide backup power during outages.
Having their own power sources can help hospitals reduce their reliance on the grid and lower their energy costs. In the case of renewable energy sources like solar and wind, hospitals can also reduce their environmental impact and carbon emissions.
Yes, powering hospitals can be challenging due to the need for a guaranteed and uninterrupted source of energy. While batteries can be used for backup power, they may not be sufficient for larger hospitals. Natural gas is currently the most reliable option, but there are efforts to move towards cleaner energy sources.
