Solar Power for Saving Lives in Uganda

Hospital Acquires Solar Back-Up System

Equator Solar Systems Limited initiated installations of a 22 kWp solar PV system for the St. Francis Naggalama Hospital in Naggalama on 24th September, 2021. This is the second solar PV system installed at the Hospital by Equator Solar following the initial 12 kWp solar system that was commissioned in 2019.

The new system is integrated with 21 kWh supercapacitor-based batteries that are to act as an emergency power back-up in case of any power outages at the hospital. The back-up system, is significant towards ensuring an uninterrupted power supply for the hospital especially in scenarios where a stable electricity supply is required, that is; during operations and powering of life saving devices. The six batteries installed have a storage capacity of 3.5kWh each, and have a 2-hour autonomy time, within which time they can power the entire load of the hospital efficiently. “In case of power cuts, these batteries can support the entire hospital” – Derrick Muwanguzi, Electrical Engineer at Equator Solar.

The solar PV system, which consists of 80 solar panels, generating 275 Watts per panel, includes the captive power model with a zero feed- in implementation. The captive model system is designed to reduce the cost on electricity bills while the zero feed-in implementation ensures that no power is fed back to the grid in case of a surplus power production by the system.

“We have been heavily reliant on [power from the national grid]. said Bugembe Francis Xavier, the accountant at St. Francis Naggalama Hospital. “The installation, we believe is going to help us save about 40% on the electricity bill per month.” - Mr. Francis Xavier adds.

St. Francis Naggalama Hospital which was initially reliant on a diesel-powered generator as the hospital’s only back up system, now looks towards having a substitute back up system with the super capacitors.

The battery integrated backup system provides silent energy generation at the hospital, a quality that ensures an undisturbed serenity when the system is active.

“Since with solar, there is no noise [in comparison to the noisy diesel generator] so a patient stays calm, and with that we believe that our work of healing is made much easier and efficient.” - Sister Regina Nantongo, the HRM, St. Francis Naggalama Hospital.

Sources

• Equator Solar Systems Ltd. - References
• Naggalama Hospital - Solar PV Project. 19th November 2021. Equator Solar Systems Ltd.