Siemens Healthineers Develops UK’s First Hybrid-Powered Mobile CT Unit for Sustainable Lung Screening

Siemens Healthineers and WH Bence have collaborated to develop the UK’s first hybrid-powered mobile CT unit for lung cancer screening, enabling more flexible, resilient and sustainable delivery of community-based imaging services. Designed to support the growing demand for targeted lung health checks, the new mobile unit is built around the SOMATOM go.Up CT system from Siemens Healthineers and addresses some of the key operational challenges associated with delivering mobile screening services in community and remote locations. 

Unlike conventional mobile CT units that rely heavily on large external generators or high-capacity site power, the hybrid powered solution combines lithium-ion batteries, a 100kW uninterruptible power supply (UPS) power architecture with low amperage trickle charging and roof mounted solar panels. This approach significantly reduces infrastructure requirements and reliance on generator-based power, supporting lower-emission operation in community-based screening settings.

As a result, the unit can operate for up to three full screening days without external charging, allowing off grid deployment in locations where access to traditional power infrastructure may be limited. The design also provides increased operational resilience during local power disruption, supporting more consistent service delivery.  

Community-based lung cancer screening plays an increasingly important role in improving access to earlier diagnosis. Much like the established mobile breast screening programmes across the UK, targeted lung health check programmes are helping to improve participation by bringing imaging services directly into local communities, particularly in areas where travel and accessibility can be barriers to attendance.

At the centre of the hybrid-powered unit is the SOMATOM go.Up CT system, a compact 64-slice scanner designed to support high quality imaging and efficient workflows within mobile environments. The system incorporates Tin Filter technology, enabling low-dose imaging protocols that are particularly well suited to lung cancer screening, where dose efficiency is a critical consideration. 

The reduced infrastructure requirements and compact footprint of the hybrid powered unit also offers greater flexibility for providers operating mobile imaging services across multiple sites. By simplifying deployment and reducing power demands, the unit supports more sustainable models for delivering imaging services beyond hospital walls. 

Professor Richard Booton, Consultant Respiratory Physician at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, states: “We have worked closely with Siemens Healthineers for many years across our lung cancer screening programme, using mobile CT technology to help bring screening closer to local communities. A hybrid-powered solution like this offers increased flexibility, enabling services to be delivered in a wider range of locations without many of the logistical challenges traditionally associated with mobile imaging infrastructure, while also supporting efforts to reduce emissions through a lower reliance on generator-based power. As lung screening continues to expand, innovations that support accessibility and operational resilience will become increasingly important.”

Carl Smith, business area lead for CT from Siemens Healthineers Great Britain & Ireland, states: “As lung screening programmes continue to expand, there is a growing focus on how imaging services can be delivered closer to patients and more sustainably. This collaboration with WH Bence was driven by the need to address the practical challenges of mobile CT deployment - including power infrastructure, logistics and resilience - while maintaining high-quality imaging capability.”