News & Insights
VIDEO: On-site power generation for healthcare
Why this matters now
Hospitals depend on reliable power, and the grid is no longer the certainty it once was. Severe weather, aging utility infrastructure, and growing demand are putting more pressure on health systems to think hard about on-site generation. Codes set a floor for emergency power, but more systems are looking beyond compliance to true operational continuity. Resilience strategies that worked a decade ago need a fresh look.
What leaders are weighing
Healthcare leaders are weighing the cost of expanded on-site generation against the cost of disruption to clinical operations. They are deciding how to balance traditional diesel generation with natural gas, renewables, storage, and microgrid configurations. There are tradeoffs around emissions, fuel availability, maintenance burden, and integration with existing systems. Operations teams want simplicity. Sustainability teams want lower emissions. Boards want defensible investment cases. The right strategy reflects each campus’s specific risk and operating profile.
How Salas O’Brien is helping clients respond
Our healthcare and energy teams help systems plan and deliver on-site generation strategies that protect care under real conditions. We bring engineering depth across electrical systems, controls, generation technology, and resilience planning. We help clients evaluate options, model performance under stress scenarios, and design systems that fit clinical operations and capital realities. Hear Duc Bui, James McCollum, Khaja Syed, and Jon Grant discuss what’s working in healthcare on-site power.
Duc Bui, PE
Duc Bui is an expert in the electrification of healthcare facilities. A leading provider of electrical engineering solutions and an innovator in using low voltage DC power for LED lighting , he holds a US Patent on Direct Current Power Delivery System. Duc specializes in healthcare facilities and pharmaceutical facilities with a strong presence in California serving large corporations such as Kaiser Permanente, Abbott Vascular, Tenet, University of California Irvine, and the University of Southern California. Duc serves as a Principal for Salas O’Brien. Contact him at [email protected].
James McCollum, LEED Green Assoc.
James McCollum specializes in construction and engineering for healthcare. He spent the early part of his career in healthcare construction, then transitioned to serve Kaiser Permanente by becoming Director of Facility Services, a position where he skillfully managed plant operations and physical security. He transitioned into consulting engineering and joined DPB in 2012, which merged in 2022 with Salas O’Brien, a leading multidisciplinary engineering firm. Jim serves as a Principal at Salas O’Brien. Contact him at [email protected].
Khaja Syed, P.Eng. MS.
Khaja Syed is known for his leadership and project management skills across multi-national projects. His experience includes significant roles in designing and managing complex electrical systems for hospitals and pharmaceutical, educational, governmental, and industrial facilities. Khaja serves as a Principal at Salas O’Brien. Contact him at [email protected] .
Jon Grant, PE, CM-Lean
Jon Grant is adept at building strategic teams. A future-forward thinker, Jon takes a people-first approach in both his management style and client work believing that the value is in the relationships that drive the work. Clients trust Jon to help them navigate decisions with high stakes making him a leader in healthcare, commercial, and cultural projects. He has a BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois at Chicago and serves as a Principal at Salas O’Brien. Contact him at [email protected].