Before investing in any energy technologies, a health facility must first understand its current energy needs and supplies. An initial energy audit is a critical component to ensure proper system design and operation and in most cases should be carried out by a trained energy professional. Here are representative health facility load calculations, an online load calculation tool, as well as a detailed audit manual and spreadsheet.

Load Analysis: A Critical Component of an Energy Audit

A basic electric load assessment involves creating a table showing power ratings of all electrical devices in the facility along with an estimate of the number of hours each device will operate on a daily basis. This results in an assessment of the watt-hours used by the facility per day, which is used to assess the size of the energy system needed. Here are a range of sample health facilities as well as energy consumption estimates for commonly used equipment.

Medical patients wait on several long crowded wooden benches in a room with brick walls and a high ceiling with several bright skylights.

Health Clinic Load Calculations

Sample health clinic load calculations.

Blood Bank Load Calculations

Sample blood bank load calculations. The type of refrigerator that is used in the blood bank can have a huge effect on the daily load calculations and on the size and cost of the energy systems needed to power the facility.

Example Laboratory Infrastructure Load Calculations for Developing Countries

Before any on-site energy solution can be developed for a health facility laboratory a load analysis needs to be completed based on the specific equipment and usage patterns for that facility. These examples provide load calculations for some different sized facilities visited in Haiti and Zambia.

Online Load Calculation Tool

United States Agency for International Development: U.S. AID from the American People

Load Calculation and System Optimization

This online software tool is designed to assist health care providers in designing appropriate power systems for their rural health clinics. The software is designed to evaluate hybrid power systems that include generators, utility power grids, batteries and photovoltaic arrays. The software uses the optimization program tool called HOMER to determine the most cost effective options for delivering continuous electrical energy to the health facility.

Full Energy Audit

Energy Audit

A spreadsheet tool and guide designed to be an overall off-grid energy information package to help energy experts and procurement officers collect and analyze information, plan PV and generator systems in off-grid health centers, and develop specifications and bidding documents.

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Last updated: November 17, 2010

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