Our Healthy Hospitals Electrification Campaign
Our Healthy Hospitals national campaign is calling for all-electric, renewable-powered hospitals in every state and territory in Australia.
Healthcare in Australia is responsible for around 7% of our domestic carbon footprint. A large share of this comes from fossil-fuel-based energy such as coal-fired electricity and fossil gas.
By shifting hospitals to clean electricity, we can significantly cut emissions and build a climate-ready healthcare system that serves every community in Australia.
All-electric hospitals are healthier for patients, healthcare workers, local communities and the climate. While many health networks already have sustainability plans, fully electrifying hospitals – both new builds and existing facilities – is a crucial next step.
Healthy Futures is amplifying the voices of trusted healthcare workers, medical colleges and organisations to secure federal commitments to an all-electric healthcare system.
Healthy Hospitals: Powering Australia’s Healthcare with Clean Energy
Our Goal:
Transition all hospitals in Australia to be all-electric and powered by renewable energy – cutting emissions, saving money and improving health.
Our Policy Asks:
- Fund a pilot program to retrofit nine public hospitals – covering every state and territory – to become all-electric, starting with feasibility studies funded in the 2026 Federal Budget.
- Commit that by the end of 2026, all new hospitals and health infrastructure must be built all-electric.
- Make a long-term commitment to begin retrofitting all existing hospitals and healthcare infrastructure to be fully electric by 2035.
Campaign Brochure
Click the brochure below to read more about the campaign:
We Need Your Endorsement
You can join leading medical colleges and organisations representing over 100,000 healthcare workers in endorsing All-Electric Healthy Hospitals.
Together, we’re calling for hospitals to be powered by clean, reliable energy so they can protect patient care, cut emissions and ensure our healthcare system is climate-ready.
Add your endorsement today and help push for healthier, more resilient hospitals.
| Endorse the Campaign |
Who’s Already On Board?
Our campaign is supported by allied organisations and colleges across the health sector.
Take Our Hospital Survey
Has a disaster impacted your hospital?
Have you or your community been affected by extreme weather? What happened at your local hospital? Your experiences can help us understand how prepared hospitals are – and why they need to go all-electric as soon as possible.
We want to hear from you, whether you’re a community member, patient, or on-site staff.
The Benefits of All-Electric Hospitals
Hospitals that run on clean electricity deliver major benefits for climate, health and the economy. Here’s why all-electric hospitals are essential:
Climate
Replacing fossil gas and coal-powered systems with electric heating and hot water cuts hospital emissions and supports Australia’s broader climate goals, protecting public health from climate impacts.
Climate Readiness and Resilience
All-electric hospitals with renewable energy, micro-grids and battery storage are better prepared for extreme weather, blackouts and energy price shocks, helping them stay open and safe when communities need them most.
Justice
A healthy, well-resourced public health system is central to a just society. Making hospitals both ethical and sustainable ensures communities aren’t further harmed by pollution and climate impacts.
Economic
All-electric new builds and retrofits lead to medium- and long-term cost savings. Gas exposes hospitals to volatile prices; clean electricity reduces bills so savings can be reinvested in patient care.
Health Benefits
Electric systems produce fewer indoor air pollutants than gas. Gas-burning equipment can release carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide, which are linked to serious respiratory and other health issues. Cleaner air inside hospitals means safer spaces for patients and staff.
Why Electrification is Good for Health
Electrification reduces exposure to pollutants produced by gas appliances, which are associated with asthma and other respiratory conditions. It also lowers hospitals’ overall carbon footprints, reducing the health impacts of climate change.
- Asthma Australia notes that replacing gas heaters with electric alternatives can improve asthma symptoms.
- Hospitals still using gas can expose patients to pollutants linked to respiratory infections, fatigue and even cancer.
- Electric systems provide safer, cleaner indoor environments – especially important in healthcare settings.
Letter of Endorsement from Health Leaders and MPs
In October 2024, Healthy Futures – together with leading medical colleges, health organisations and Federal Members of Parliament – sent a budget submission letter to the Federal Minister for Health and the Treasurer, calling for funding of the Healthy Hospitals pilot program.
| Download the Cover Letter |
All-Electric Healthy Hospitals FAQs
1. What does electrification mean?
Electrification means removing a hospital’s reliance on fossil gas and fully transitioning to renewable-powered electricity. This includes exploring opportunities for on-site solar, EV infrastructure and, where appropriate, micro-grids. It focuses on everyday energy use, not emergency diesel generators or backup systems.
2. Is appropriate equipment available, accessible and affordable?
Yes. The technologies needed to electrify hospitals are proven, widely used and increasingly standard in new construction because of their lower operating costs. The equipment is accessible and financially viable.
3. Will this cope with current and future peak demand?
In most climate zones, hospitals can electrify without increasing peak demand – and in some cases peak demand may even decrease with renewables, micro-grids and thermal storage. In a few southern climates, winter peaks may rise slightly; where needed, grid upgrades will be factored into project costs.
4. How does this fit with local and federal laws and regulations?
Electrifying hospitals is consistent with all federal, state and local regulations. Several states are already moving to restrict new fossil gas connections. The Australian Health Facility Guidelines, which underpin most hospital designs, can support all-electric infrastructure.
5. Can’t we just reduce heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) instead?
Energy-efficiency and HVAC upgrades are important, but they are not enough on their own. Electrification is essential if we are to fully decarbonise the healthcare sector and meet state and federal emissions targets.
6. How will reduced emissions be measured?
Existing hospitals burn fossil fuels onsite to deliver essential services. Electrification reduces this fuel use, delivering direct emissions reductions. Each project will include a measurement and verification plan to track energy use before and after upgrades, with emissions calculated using the National Greenhouse Accounts Factors.
7. Why are feasibility studies needed?
Feasibility studies identify the costs, savings and emissions reductions for each hospital, and build an evidence base for wider rollout. By studying hospitals in different climates and locations – metro, regional, rural and remote – we can design retrofit approaches that maximise both emissions cuts and cost savings.
8. What happens during power outages and catastrophic events?
Most critical hospital systems, such as cold chain management and ICU equipment, already run on electricity. Backup power will continue to be provided according to the Australian Health Facility Guidelines, typically via diesel generators. Electrification projects will also consider on-site renewable generation and storage to further strengthen energy security during extreme events.
Call to Action
This initiative is a crucial step towards a healthcare system that is healthier, more sustainable and climate-resilient. If you would like to get involved, please contact Ursula Alquier at [email protected].
Pilot Hospitals for Electrification
We are beginning this work with nine pilot hospitals located across VIC, NT, NSW, QLD, SA, TAS and WA. These hospitals represent a range of climates and locations, and will undergo feasibility studies to estimate costs, savings and emissions reductions.
