Clinique Saint‑Jean is a 44,215 m² hospital complex located in the heart of Brussels. Its existing power supply dated back to 2004 and no longer met current continuity standards. “There were several power grids with no central, let alone central management. We needed far more transparency” explains Ivo Coltura, Project Engineer at Clinique Saint‑Jean. Cegelec, SDM‑Projects, and Siemens joined forces to deliver a power supply solution that exceeds today’s hospital requirements.
Clinique Saint-Jean gets a new electric heart
For a modern hospital like the Clinique Saint-Jean in Brussels, a reliable and efficient power supply is something like the lifeblood. In addition to technical performance, it is also important to ensure the long-term availability of the systems.
Safeguarding reliability and availability
Smart monitoring
In a hospital environment, even the smallest power interruption can have serious consequences, so the new system had to be robust and truly intelligent. Siemens selected SIVACON S4 power distribution boards and SENTRON 3WA circuit breakers to ensure continuous, automated monitoring of the power supply. The data generated by these components is integrated into Desigo CC, enabling full visibility and early detection of potential issues.
Both the digital and the real world
Siemens Solution Partner SDM-Projects was responsible for design, engineering and installation. This was achieved using a digital twin, as installation had to be done quickly and correctly the first time. You can’t cut off a hospital’s power supply for four weeks, much the same as you can’t detect faults when the power is on for obvious reasons of personnel safety. So the team validated the entire installation virtually and detected every conceivable fault.
Installation ten times faster
SDM‑Projects took the approach even further by connecting the real switchgear to virtual power sources after validation. Live switching actions and feedback were transmitted directly to the digital twin, providing absolute certainty that the system was error‑free.
The results were remarkable. Installation was completed ten times faster than usual, with no adjustments required on site. All components were fully compatible from the start.
A sustainable solution, ready for the future
The new installation delivers more than Clinique Saint‑Jean initially required, and faster than expected. It is fully future‑proof and ready to support further expansion. Next steps include integrating heating, ventilation, and air‑conditioning systems into Desigo CC, enabling overall building control and significant energy savings.
In the future, Clinique Saint-Jean will also be able to integrate additional energy sources into the system, such as photovoltaic panels or CHP, so they can supply energy intelligently. In the event of a grid failure, the clinic will form its own energy island. This will enable them to move from emergency operation to comfortable emergency operation, allowing them to continue to power non-vital assets as well. Clinique Saint-Jean can even ensure greater grid stability by supplying additional power to the grid operator, or by drawing more if there is too much power on the grid. This is the power of a smart, resilient hospital infrastructure.