After determining the health facility’s typical daily energy needs, accounting for change, and investigating options for purchase of power from local service providers, it is time to evaluate the on-site energy technologies needed to meet the facility’s energy needs. Selecting the best technology option requires the consideration of a number of factors.

These factors need to be considered:

Lifecycle costs of different technology options
Reliability and quality of local grid (if applicable)
Local renewable energy resources (wind, solar, biomass)
Local cost and availability of conventional energy resources (diesel, propane, gasoline)
Local availability of systems, parts, service companies, and technicians
Government policies and incentives
System reliability requirements
Technical capacity and funds for system maintenance and replacement
Special considerations or desired operational characteristics – i.e., noise, emissions, etc.

A smiling male health worker posing in the operating room of a health facility.

Health Clinics

The energy demands of a health facility will be a critical component in the selection of the most appropriate energy system and electrification technology. Descriptions of several types of health facilities and technology options are provided here as general comparative guidelines.

Technology Options

Health facilities have a number of technology options available to supply reliable electricity, including Photovoltaic (PV), Wind, Reciprocating Engines (generators), Hybrid Systems, and Grid Extension.

View our Privacy Policy
Contact the Webmaster
Last updated: November 17, 2010

The information provided on this Web site is not official U.S. Government
information and does not represent the views or positions of the
U.S. Agency for International Development or the U.S. Government.