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How modern hospitals can be sustainably converted to new energy centers during ongoing operations

A practical example: the APESS study for the ISAR Clinic in Munich.

Why energy projects in hospitals are so challenging

Hospitals are among the most complex buildings in terms of energy management. They have to function around the clock – without exception and without downtime. At the same time, they are under pressure to reduce operating costs, become climate-neutral and ensure maximum security of supply.

Typical challenges and pain points:
– Outdated infrastructure: Many hospitals work with heterogeneous, isolated solutions that have grown over decades – inefficient and difficult to maintain.
– High redundancy requirements: Nothing must fail. Every modernization must function in parallel with ongoing operations.
– Limited internal expertise: Technical energy standards are changing rapidly. Facility teams are often unable to cope with the complexity on their own.
– Limited conversion options: Areas cannot simply be closed off – operations must always continue.
– High energy requirements: Large air volumes, hygiene requirements and 24/7 operation lead to enormous costs.
Best practice
The APESS study for ISAR Klinikum München

In order to identify potential savings, the hospital commissioned energy consultant Waldemar Brauer (BESS Consulting) to carry out a comprehensive analysis of the current energy situation. It quickly became clear that a holistic concept was needed for the modernization – and that’s where APESS came in.

No fossil fuels, instead a holistic heat pump concept for maximum efficiency, sustainability and moderate operating costs.
The initial situation – a system at the limit

The analysis showed:

–Theexisting energy center was outdated and needed to be comprehensively renewed in the coming years anyway.
Theframework conditions were ideal:
district heating very expensive,
electricity for heat pumps cheap,
a chiller had to be replaced anyway.
-Theheat recovery did not work properly – which wasted energy unnecessarily.
–Thisprovided the opportunity not only to renovate, but also to fundamentally optimize the entire system.
The APESS solution: A modular, three-year conversion during ongoing operations

The result of the study was a comprehensive, technically sophisticated and economically highly attractive modernization concept.

Key components of the APESS concept:
– Conversion from district heating to heat pump operation
– In future, all requirements will be covered by modular heat pumps.
– District heating remains as a peak load backup – economical and redundant.
– Central heat recovery instead of expensive conversion
Many of the old ventilation systems are installed in narrow attics. Converting them to a low-temperature level would have been expensive.
APESS eliminates the need for this conversion, as heat recovery is centralized.
– Intelligent overall control and monitoring
– A higher-level heat pump manager optimizes generation, distribution and use.
– APESS remote access ensures that the system works correctly at all times – an important point, as the previous recovery systems did not work properly.
– Conversion without interrupting operations
Step by step towards greater energy efficiency, sustainability and low operating costs.
System overview of the energy center: heat pump network with exhaust air utilization, intelligent control and integrated distribution.

A central promise:

Hospital operations will continue uninterrupted throughout the three-year project.


This is a service that only a few providers can guarantee – a real benefit that APESS offers.

Modernization must take place in parallel with ongoing operations - a very important requirement in the healthcare sector.
Concrete results and key figures

The challenge

A patchwork of individual solutions and outdated technology were to be converted to climate-neutral operation – while the clinic continued to run.

The APESS solution

✔ Modular multi-phase plan
✔ Conversion during ongoing operations – without interruption
✔ Reduction in energy costs by more than 50 %
✔ Achievement of the hospital’s sustainability goals

Project key figures at a glance
– Heating / cooling capacity: > 1 MW
– Conversion of the entire energy center from district heating to heat pump operation incl. intelligent distribution
– Order volume: € 3.5 million
– Amortization period: < 5 years
– Modular heat pumps: ideal for partial load operation and redundancy
– Adapted inventory distribution: fit for future requirements
Conclusion: A model that can be transferred to many hospitals

The project shows: With a tailor-made concept, a deep understanding of hospital operations and modular APESS technologies, even large energy centers can be sustainably modernized during ongoing operations.

Hospitals benefit in particular:
– of high savings potential,
– from intelligent heat recovery,
– of modular plug & play systems,
– and, above all, APESS’s ability to carry out complex conversions without interrupting hospital operations.

Do you have questions?

Find out more about our concept now - Contact APESS