To comply with Taiwan government’s green energy policy and take concrete actions to support energy transition initiatives sponsored by Ministry of Economic Affairs aimed at promoting and expanding solar photovoltaic (PV) installation on public rooftops, Tri-Service General Hospital (TSGH), under the support and guidance of Medical Affairs Bureau (MAB) of Ministry of National Defense (MND), has been consistently improving its medical technologies and enhancing healthcare services delivered to patients under its care. In recent years, TSGH has also progressively phased out outdated and obsolete air conditioning systems, replaced and retrofitted electricity equipment, installed LED lighting lamps in the hospital compound, and enhanced monitoring and surveillance of hospital-wide energy consumption and management with more frequent man patrols as well as the adoption of energy management information system. Starting from 2018, TSGH staffs initiated the processes of planning, surveying, designing, and procuring for the new rooftop solar photovoltaic system and the actual construction (installation) project was kick-started in 2020. During the stage of solar panel system installation, special care and considerations were given by the project team, given complex piping system of hospital buildings, noise level control of the construction sites, safety issues related to high altitude crane lifting operations, safe and convenient passage of patients seeking care, and entry and exit of ambulances in and out of the hospital. Under teamwork and partnership between construction project team and hospital staffs, installation of TSGH’s rooftop photovoltaic solar panel system was completed by the end of 2020 and on December 17th the rooftop photovoltaic system was officially launched during a ceremony in TSGH, contributing to the expansion of green energy utilization of Taiwan.

Rooftop photovoltaic system installed by TSGH is not only the largest of all armed forces hospitals in Taiwan’s military health system but also the biggest one in terms of installed capacity of all medical centers located in northern Taiwan. A total of 4,700 solar panels were installed, with installed capacity totaling 1.6 MW. It’s estimated that each year 1.7 million kWh (Kilowatt hour) of electricity will be generated by TSGH’s rooftop photovoltaic system, capable of reducing 905 metric tons of carbon dioxide emission, which is equal to the CO2 absorption rate capacity of 2.3 Daan Forest Parks.