Six hospitals in Sierra Leone to receive critical power from renewable energy
EM-ONE and SEforALL have partnered to bridge the acute energy access gap currently affecting the delivery of basic healthcare services to over 10,0000 Sierras Leoneans. The solar microgrids will have a total PV total PV capacity of 536.8 kWp & an energy storage capacity of 1.2 MWh and will be delivered by September 2023.
Vienna, Austria: EM-ONE, a technology and engineering firm, wins SEforAll contract to provide affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy to six hospitals in Sierra Leone. The project is funded by the UK’s Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).
Project details:
EM-ONE was contracted to complete the engineering, procurement, and construction of five solar plus storage microgrids that would power six government hospitals across Sierra Leone. The company will also be completing electrical efficiency retrofits and upgrades to optimize the use of energy within the hospitals, as part of their contract.
The solar microgrids have been designed with high-quality and durable components from Canadian Solar and Alpha ESS, amongst others. It is equipped with a remote monitoring and control capabilities that enable continuous monitoring of the system’s performance and energy usage once it becomes operational.
Hospitals covered:
1. Ola During Children’s Hospital (co-located with PCMH)
2. Princess Christian Maternity Hospital (co-located with ODCH)
3. Masanga Hospital
4. Kambia Government Hospital
5. Bonthe Government Hospital
Contextual Background
Sierra Leone is one of the world's least developed countries and access to healthcare remains restricted. This is caused by poor service delivery, a shortage of qualified healthcare workers, and overall lack of access to reliable power. As a result, population health indices like high infant mortality and maternal death remain among the worst in the world.
Across Africa off-grid systems are fast becoming a game changer for healthcare delivery. If well maintained, such systems have the potential to provide the required energy needed to enhance access and improve the overall quality of healthcare services provided.
Off-grid systems can provide electricity for lighting enabling health facilities to operate for longer hours and provide night-time care for patients. Electricity provision via off-grid systems can also enable the use of modern medical equipment for both diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Essential medical suppliers such as vaccines, blood and medicines can as well be stored and preserved under regulated temperatures to ensure longevity. The energy needed for the sterilization and disinfection of medical devices on the one hand and the safe disposal of medical waste on the other can also be provided by off-grid systems. Furthermore, electricity from off-grid systems can also enhance the use of information and communication technology (ICT) devices and applications in healthcare delivery and serve as a motivation to attract and retain healthcare workers in rural communities.
With funding from the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), SEforALL is undertaking its first investment in built sustainable infrastructure. The flagship project will directly impact health service delivery and eliminating fuel consumption by adding more than 0.6 MWp of installed solar PV capacity to the country’s health sector.
Project Partners:
Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) is an international organization that works in partnership with the United Nations and leaders in government, the private sector, financial institutions, civil society, and philanthropies to drive faster action towards the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7)—access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all by 2030—in line with the Paris Agreement on climate.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) is a department of the Government of the United Kingdom focused on acting as a force for good in the world by promoting the interests of British citizens, safeguarding the UK’s security, defending core values, reducing poverty, and tackling global challenges with international partners.
Crown Agents is a non-profit international development firm specializing in designing and implementing programmes and projects that accelerate self-sufficiency and prosperity around the world. Their areas of expertise include supply chain delivery; government system strengthening; and project and fund management.
EM-ONE is a Canadian-Nigerian engineering and technology firm, advancing the sustainable energy transition in Africa. The company has successfully designed and built over 118 solar microgrids with total PV capacity of over 11 MWp that sustainably power hospitals and clinics in Nigeria. It is currently building on this success to expand its’ impact in powering healthcare across Africa.
