The Sierra Leone Healthcare Electrification Project has already deployed solar PV and battery storage systems to improve the reliability of electricity supplies at six hospitals, with more health facilities to come.
Project Overview
Health facilities need reliable electricity around the clock to treat patients and save lives. But across Sub-Saharan Africa, a staggering 25,000 healthcare facilities lack access to electricity entirely, while around 70,000 health centres have an unreliable electrical supply.
Just in Sierra Leone, it is estimated that more than 1,000 health facilities need either a complete power solution or a back-up solution. SEforALL conducted detailed energy audits at major hospitals in Sierra Leone to identify opportunities to replace unreliable, polluting diesel generator capacity with renewable energy solutions that can deliver reliable, clean power.
Based on these findings, we implemented the Sierra Leone Healthcare Electrification Project, which has already installed solar PV and battery systems at six key hospitals in Freetown (Ola During Children’s Hospital and Princess Christian Maternity Hospital), Kambia, Masanga, Kabala and Bonthe, with a combined total of more than 0.6 megawatt-peak (MWp) of installed power capacity.
With the initial six installations complete, we are now working with our partners to deploy similar solar PV and battery systems at one other hospital in Kailahun, and 25 community health centres throughout Sierra Leone.
The project is UK funded and is being implemented in close coordination with the Sierra Leonean Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS). SEforALL has hired Crown Agents (project management) and EM-One Solutions (EPC contractor) to carry out key aspects of the project.
Impact to date
6
Hospitals already electrified with solar PV and battery systems
0.6
MWp of solar capacity already installed
8.6 m
People who will benefit from improved health services in the hospitals
The project showcases how hospitals can be equipped with renewable and reliable energy solutions in an accelerated timeframe, bringing significant benefits to the delivery of health services and thereby leading to positive impact on health outcomes.
The significant reduction in diesel generator usage has led to a large reduction in greenhouse gas and particulate emissions from diesel generators that previously powered the health facilities, either as a back-up (for on-grid hospitals) or as a primary power source (for off-grid hospitals).
The six hospitals already powered are currently being remotely monitored, and power systems are being maintained regularly to ensure optimal performance, while the project partners are evaluating different longer-term models to ensure sustainability and performance.
Follow our progress on social media using #PoweringHealthcare and #PoweringLivesSL
