Powering Health
Electrification Options for Developing Country Health Facilities
Step-Wise Approach to Power Your Health Facility
There are many steps involved to plan and implement a system and ensure its sustainability, from considering your energy needs and the most appropriate technology to meet those needs, to designing, installing and maintaining the system.
1. Analyze Energy Demand/Supply
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.
2. Account for Change
Once a facility has analyzed the energy requirements of its day-to-day operations, it must also determine whether the energy demands are likely to change in the near term. Health facility managers must think strategically in consultation with stakeholders, about the possibility that energy demands may increase due to the addition of patients, extended operating hours, or new services.
3. Investigate Viability of Local Service Providers
Health facilities are in the business of providing quality health services, not operating energy systems, and if reliable power can be purchased for a reasonable price from an outside source it is typically worth pursuing. Before investing in any on-site technology, certain options should be investigated.
4. Explore On-Site Technology Options
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.
5. Design, Procure, and Install the Energy System
Implementing your energy system will include a number of steps including designing the system, preparing bid packages and technical specifications, procurement, and finally, installation.
6. Make Investments Sustainable
The sustainability of any on-site technologies at health facilities requires proper operations, maintenance, and energy management which can only be achieved with proper institutional support structures, funding and training.
View our Privacy Policy
Contact the Webmaster
Last updated: November 16, 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.