Photovoltaic (PV) for Health Centers - Project Experience

This articles aims at compiling experience from past and ongoing PV programmes for rural health centers. For each project the following issues are covered:

I) Project Approach,

II) Project Outputs & Technical System Details,

III) Evidence for Impacts, and

IV) Lessons Learned.

GTZ-PREEEP, Uganda

Project Approach

PREEEP has supported a number of social institutions in Uganda with access to solar energy (health centres, boarding schools, vocational training centres, orphanages). This has been done through extension of subsidy to these institutions. GTZ operations are currently focused on Northern Uganda, but institutions in other district can also receive support. However, to qualify for this subsidy, a number of conditions need to be fulfilled. These are listed below;

• The institution should be located in Northern Uganda or another district where PREEEP is already active
• The institution could be a boarding school, a health centre, a vocational training centre or an orphanage.
• The institution should be located not less than 5 km from the nearest grid and should also not be in an area earmarked for grid extension in the next 10 years. If the grid is nearby and the costs for grid connection are low, PREEEP can also support grid connection.
• The institution should be willing to contribute a percentage of 20% of the overall cost of the proposed system and will be responsible for operation and maintenance.

Process:

• GTZ identifies institution /institution applies to GTZ
• Check whether selection criteria are fulfilled
• GTZ conducts survey of electricity requirements; this includes a sketch of the premises with measurements and distances between buildings
• GTZ designs the system and calculates the estimated costs incl. the 20% financial contribution by the institution
• GTZ gets back to the applicant and checks whether the institution is ready / able to pay the contribution and in which time frame (payment in instalments is possible); for public health centres, the partner is the District Health Office
• GTZ and institutions sign MoU that includes the amounts to be contributed by both partners and the payment schedule
• Institution transfers financial contribution to GTZ account
• GTZ launches procurement process
• Local company installs
• GTZ inspects installation
• Monitoring visits / impact assessment

 

Note that the institution is required to meet the costs for operation and maintenance, which includes replacement of batteries after approx. 4-7 years. This is a major reinvestment! It should also be noted that the institution has to stick to the uses that the system was designed for. Connecting additional buildings and appliances is not possible! If the institution wants to use computers or other appliances that require a lot of power, they should buy energy efficient ones from the start (e.g. laptops). If they want to use inefficient appliances, the system has to be much bigger and is therefore significantly more expensive for both parties.