Energy Management
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Energy management makes critical health services more reliable and efficient. (Photo: Walt Ratterman) |
"Health and energy are interdependent factors."
- The World Health Organization
Energy management is as much about human behavior and management as it is about technology. The actions of your staff will have a major impact on the amount of energy your health center consumes. In many instances, energy equipment and supply decisions may occur outside the health care facility. For example, a national government agency or donor may provide a diesel or solar system to meet the needs of a rural facility, often without input from you or your clinic staff. Energy use and management decisions, on the other hand, take place at the facility level, and therefore the long-term success of the energy system is one of your responsibilities.
Energy management determines not only how much power, electricity, or current you have available to run your facility, but also how you use that power. Energy management will help you to:
- Maximize the lifespan of energy systems, through proper operation, use, and maintenance.
- Ensure that energy is available when needed.
- Keep energy costs as low as possible so more money is available for medicines and other important medical necessities at your facility.
For more information on energy management strategies, see:
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Powering Health: Energy Management in Your Health Facility - English (PDF 1.9MB), French (PDF 1.1MB), Spanish (PDF 1.1MB)
A resource for health professionals seeking to make better use of limited energy supplies. This guide assumes your health care facility already has electricity access, but presumes that more effective management of this limited resource will improve your ability to provide routine, quality health services on demand.
A sound energy management program is implemented using the following five steps:
Step 1: Identify and Prioritize Your Facility's Energy Needs
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Prioritizing sensitive loads, such as these laboratory microscopes, is the first step of an energy management and energy supply strategy. (Photo: David Jones) |
An energy management scheme begins by identifying and prioritizing the energy needs of your facility. This includes preparing a list of connected load for all electric appliances and devices within the health facility including the medical center, staff residences and other service areas. The next step is to categorize connected load into three groups:
- No-contact load: Appliances/devices which require a constant supply of high quality power. Interruptions, poor voltage or other power quality issues may harm sensitive electronics. These loads must be hooked up to UPS systems and backup power. Computers and lab equipment are common examples.
- Contact load: Appliances or energy-consuming facility services that must be supplied backup power but not necessarily clean, high quality power. Loss of power to contact loads for extended periods can impose dangers to patient lives, a vaccine refrigerator for example.
- Non-critical load: Refers to appliances/devices that are helpful but not essential. A fan for patient comfort, for example.
Once a comprehensive list of all the electric appliances and devices are developed, identify the rated power (e.g. a 60 Watts bulb) for each connected load. Also, list the number of hours each appliance/device operates in a day. Multiply the rated power of the device with the number of hours it operates in a day. This gives the daily energy requirement of an appliance. For example, one 60 Watt bulb operates for 5 hours every day, meaning its daily electricity consumption is 1 x 60 Watts x 5 hours = 300 Watt-hours per day. Add up the energy consumption for all the identified devices and appliances in the facility to determine the energy load of your health clinic.
Sanitas Clinic: The Staff Measures Their Energy UseThe Sanitas head nurse and two nursing assistants make a list of all the equipment that uses energy in their facility and staff quarters, and try to find out how much power each piece of equipment consumes. In some cases, they find the power consumption listed on a label on the bottom or side of the device; in other cases, they have to make a few phone calls. The district health office is able to give them some information; the service provider who installed their solar system is also helpful at estimating how much energy certain types of equipment will consume. Finally, the staff sits down and estimates how many hours each piece of equipment is used. They put all of this information into a table. To get the total energy consumed at the clinic each day (column E), they multiply columns B, C and D. The staff also prioritizes the importance of various appliances according to no-contact, contact and non-critical loads. |
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For more information on load analysys and calculation, see:
Load Analysis and Example Calculations
A fundamental part of energy management, and the first step in improving a health facility energy system, is an electrical load inventory. An electrical load inventory is a listing of all electricity-consuming equipment in a facility, everything from light bulbs to expensive lab equipment to cell phone chargers.
Step 2: Know Your Energy Systems: Balance Energy Demand and Supply
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Solar panels supply power to an off-grid facility in Rwanda. (Photo: Walt Ratterman) |
Rural (or off-grid) health facilities often generate their own energy for lighting, critical medical equipment, refrigeration, office and communications functions, and other purposes. Therefore, understanding the total amount of power available to you is very important in developing a proper energy management plan.
On-site electricity generation can come from different sources such as solar power, wind turbines, mini-hydro, diesel/gasoline generator, propane/kerosene-based lighting sources, batteries, hybrid systems etc. It is important to know the power supply capacity of the energy generating source. For example, for diesel and renewable energy systems, power ratings are typically found on the energy producing equipment. The power rating tells you what the equipment's electricity generating capacity is. You can calculate the amount of energy that the equipment produces in a day by multiplying the capacity by the number of hours that the equipment generates electricity.
For renewable energy systems (e.g., solar, wind, hydropower), equipment is typically rated in Watts or kilowatts. For example, if a facility has five PV panels, each rated at 100 Watts, then the PV capacity would be 500 Watts (100 x 5) or 0.5 kilowatts. If the facility usually gets full sunlight for about four hours per day, then that system produces a maximum of 2,000 Watt-hours per day (500 x 4), or 2.0 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per day. To enhance renewable energy system availability, batteries are often added to store energy produced and make it available when the renewable energy resource is not available, e.g., when the sun is not shining or wind is not blowing. The storage capacity of batteries is typically provided in amp hours (Ah). When multiplied by the batteries nominal voltage (e.g. two, six, or twelve volts), this gives the storage capacity of the battery in kilowatt-hours. For example, a 200 Ah, 12 V battery can store up to 2,400 Watt-hours, or 2.4 kilowatt-hours of energy.
Knowing the total amount of power available, the power needs of your facility, and the critical load priorities, you are able to more effectively manage energy consumption and have the power needed to satisfy facility demand. This information will help to prioritize the limited energy resources that are available, and identify any extra capacity left for running existing appliances for longer durations in a the day or whether the system has sufficient capacity to add new equipment.
Sanitas Clinic: Managing Energy SupplySanitas clinic has a total load of 8,806 kilowatt-hours per day. This includes 7,366 kilowatt-hours per day to meet general energy needs, and 1,440 kilowatt-hours per day for the vaccine refrigerator. Sanitas currently operates two solar power systems:
With this energy system, the clinic cannot support any more energy usage than it currently consumes, so overloading the system is a real concern. For example, if the staff uses the radio/cassette player one day for 24 hours, or leaves the laptop turned on overnight, the energy usage will exceed the systems capacity to generate electricity. This would likely cause the batteries to discharge that the system will not work for several days or even a full week until the batteries get charged again. Recently, the district health office has contacted the clinic with an offer for an electronic centrifuge machine to replace their manual one. The electronic version requires 575 watts. It will be a challenge to operate the machine unless non-critical loads are shed or new generation capacity added. |
See how renewable energy systems, diesel generators and battery banks support facility loads using the HOMER system optimization tool:
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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.
Step 3: Establish Your Energy Management Team
With knowledge of the facility's energy needs and supply availability, the next step is to formulate an energy team to establish and implement sound energy management practices. This involves the following:
Make a facility commitment to effectively manage energy use
Implementing an energy management program requires commitment by the highest level at the facility, someone who can demonstrate leadership and show the staff that this effort has strong internal support. Ideally, the program should also have the regional/national policy support that encourages sound energy management practices for country's health care facilities.
Form a dedicated energy team to deliver results
Sound energy management relies first and foremost on people. Building local capacity at the facility level and among other key stakeholders will be important to the successful operation of facility energy systems. All of the health facility staff members should gain a good understanding of the facility energy management plan, and for contributing to its execution and ultimate success. The facility manager should form an energy management team to ensure that the facility's energy system meets health care needs on a day-to-day basis. The number of team members will vary depending on the facility's size.
Ensure the team has the training and tools to do the job
Hospital energy technicians complete energy system maintenance training in Haiti. (Photo: Kim Domptail) |
The medical staff will be the primary users of the equipment and so it is important that they are represented on the energy management team. A training program will help ensure that staff members have the skills and knowledge to manage and use the energy system. Your energy service provider is a good point of contact for helping to design the program and conduct the training.
Different levels of training are appropriate for different members of the health care facility staff:
- Understanding the energy system for all staff
- Energy use monitoring for the facility energy monitor
- Operation and maintenance training for the facility energy technician.
Case Study: Solar-Energy System - Training Lessons LearnedMicobee Health Clinic is a small clinic located in a remote interior area of Guyana. The clinic serves 360 residents and 300 miners from a small village, with one part-time health worker on staff (the same person also staffs a nearby clinic with no electricity). A small photovoltaic system was installed to power a communication radio, an indoor light, and an outdoor security light. When the photovoltaic system was installed at the clinic, the local health worker was not given any training on the system, and was told not to touch the batteries because the regional health office decided that since he had not been properly trained, he might damage the system by using trial and error methods to resolve problems. He did not monitor the system or log any type of energy use. No maintenance contract with the local service provider was in place. When the USAID Energy Team visited the clinic, the electrolyte level was critically low in many of the batteries. Distilled water, which is used to refill the batteries, is not locally available. The health worker did not know how to refill the batteries to the appropriate water level, and was unable to maintain the system without some basic knowledge of system maintenance and operation. This example provides a clear reason why simple training - and including health facility staff as part of the energy team - can go a long way toward prolonging the life of an energy system. |
Read more about Micobee Health Clinic
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Case Study: Micobee and Tumatumari
Micobee and Tumatumari are small health clinics in Guyana separated by about five miles. These facilities serve a resident population of 360 as well as 300 miners from small villages along the river. Both facilities are attended by a part time local health worker. These facilities are typical of the large number of health posts scattered throughout the interior of Guyana and most other developing countries.
Find training resources used in Haiti:
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Training Material
Training health care staff on energy management practices is a vital component to successful health facility electrification efforts. Find a number of presentations and other resources used in training programs for battery, inverter and generator maintenance.
Step 4: Operate and Maintain Your Energy System
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Battery mainenance is one of the most intensive and important energy system maintenance activities. (Photo: Loby Gratia) |
Sound operation and maintenance (O&M) practices are essential to ensure that your energy system performs as expected. Proper implementation of the O&M plan has proven to be one of the most challenging aspects of health facility energy system improvement programs. Insufficient O&M funding, training, and load enforcement often lead to system failure in short order. Alternatively, if a proper O&M plan is implemented, benefits will include:
- Keeping system in good working order
- Guaranteeing that the system is working properly
- Ensuring optimal equipment performance
- Detecting potential problems before they arise and making necessary corrections
- Reducing the potential for premature system failure
- Extending the life of the system
- Saving money for your facility.
All health care facilities, both large and small, should develop a basic O&M plan for their energy system. This should be based in part on the manuals provided with your energy equipment. O&M plan preparation should be led by the facility energy technician, with assistance provided by the equipment service provider as needed. An effective O&M plan includes the following:
- Labeling and wiring of critical and non-critical equipment
- Identifying and conducting routine O&M activities
- Creating an inventory of spare parts
- Addressing theft prevention
- Setting up a dedicated budget for energy system O&M costs
- Preparing for the worst-case scenario.
Task | Frequency | Responsible Staff Member |
---|---|---|
The Energy System | ||
Monitoring and log keeping of system use | Daily | Facility Technician |
Training in emergency shutdown procedures | Periodic | Facility Manager and Energy Technician |
Maintaining a spare parts inventory | Daily | Energy Technician |
Lighting | ||
Check electrical connections | Weekly | Energy Technician |
Clean lamps to maintain brightness levels | Weekly | Energy Technician |
Replace burned out lamps and ballasts | As needed | Energy Technician |
Medical end use equipment | ||
Clean equipment, and check for worn insulation on electrical wires and loose electrical connections | Weekly | Facility Medical Staff |
Follow manufacturer's maintenance recommendations | Daily | Facility Medical Staff |
Check that power quality is sufficient. If power quality deteriorates, it may be necessary to invest in power conditioning equipment | Monthly | Energy Technician |
Batteries (may be part of a back-up system) | ||
Check electrical connections | Weekly | Energy Technician |
Check for corrosion and clean terminals | Weekly | Energy Technician |
Check water levels and top up (for lead acid battery types only) | Weekly | Energy Technician |
Ensure that batteries are fully charged on a regular basis | Weekly | Energy Technician |
Replace the battery bank | Typically every 2-5 years (lead acid) and 5-10 years for (sealed gel) if well maintained | Energy Service Provider |
Manage hazardous materials storage and disposal: recycling of spent batteries, managing electrolyte spills for lead-acid batteries | As needed | Energy Technician and Energy Service Provider |
Generators | ||
Maintain fuel and lubricating oil levels | Weekly | Energy Technician |
Change oil and oil filter | See manufacturer's recommendations | Energy Technician or Energy Service Provider |
Routine servicing: check and tighten bolts, replace fuel filter | Periodic | Energy Technician |
Conduct minor and major overhauls at regular intervals | Periodic | Energy Technician or Energy Service Provider |
Manage hazardous materials storage: diesel fuel, motor oil; and used motor oil disposal | As needed | Energy Technician |
Photovoltaic panels | ||
Clean solar panels with water and a soft cloth - do this task with care in the morning or evening; solar panels and rooftops will be extremely hot during peak sun hours. | Daily during the dry season; monthly in less dusty areas/seasons | Energy Technician |
Check system wiring for loose connections/corrosions. | Weekly | Energy Technician |
Check all fuses and circuit breakers | Weekly | Energy Technician |
For systems equipped with adjustable mounting racks, the array must be seasonally adjusted | Quarterly | Energy Technician |
Check the array for shading from growing trees or new buildings; the solar panel will not work properly if it is in the shade. Trees may need to be removed or in the case of a larger building, the solar panel relocated. Also look for dirt and debris. | Quarterly | Energy Technician |
Battery charge controller (may be part of a back-up system) | ||
Check electrical connections | Weekly | Energy Technician |
Inverters (may be part of a back-up system) | ||
Check Settings | Weekly | Energy Technician |
Check electrical connections | Weekly | Energy Technician |
Replace | Typically every 5-7 years | Energy Service Provider |
Sanitas Clinic Establishes an O&M PlanSanitas Clinic has had its solar energy system for about a year. It was installed by a solar engineer whose business headquarters are in the nearest large town. The Ministry of Health overseeing the clinic made sure that the engineer signed a contract with the Ministry agreeing to perform periodic maintenance checks as well as respond to service calls as needed, for a five-year period. For this service the Ministry of Health pays the engineer a flat sum; unexpected service calls are billed as they occur, and these are handled by the district government health office. When the system was installed, the engineer sat down with the head nurse and the office manager assigned to be the clinic's energy technician, and together they prepared a list of tasks for the technician to carry out on a regular basis. They also prepared daily logs for the technician to fill out; he keeps these handy for when the engineer makes a routine visit. The O&M routine for the clinic's energy technician is as follows:
In addition, the head nurse has established a monthly "check-in" phone call with her superiors in the Ministry of Health to discuss any energy issues that arose during the period, including budgetary and new equipment needs. Her constant communication with her superiors has had an added benefit: she has elevated the visibility of her clinic and her successful Energy Management Team, so when visiting donors and dignitaries want to see a health clinic, they are brought to visit Sanitas. The clinic staff enjoys the heightened attention by the dignitaries, and this attention has led to increased funding for the clinic as well. |
Step 5: Improve Your Energy Use
Once you understand your facility's energy demand, you can start to consider ways to reduce the demand without reducing the quality of services provided by the equipment. Reducing demand reduces the cost of fuel and of operating and maintaining the system, and also may make it possible to add equipment to your facility to improve the health services you provide. You can control and reduce energy demand in three ways: Energy monitoring, purchasing energy efficient appliances, equipment and lighting, and managing staff behavior.
Energy Monitoring
Sound maintenance and upkeep practices begin with energy monitoring, which is a function of daily behavior as well as having the right materials on hand. Monitoring energy use can help increase energy efficiency, lower costs, and lead to effective long-term budgeting. Periodic energy monitoring includes measuring electric power consumption (when measuring equipment is available), and identifying hours of the day when equipment is in use. Monitoring makes such inefficiencies apparent, and strategies can then be devised to minimize energy consumption. These include:
- Installing alarms that notify staff when to turn off equipment due to low power availability.
- Displaying lists of non-approved appliances that are not allowed on premises.
- Instructing staff to turn off equipment when not in use.
- Scheduling energy-intensive tasks for times when energy supply is adequate.
- Eliminating phantom loads by disconnecting power cords or using switched power strips for equipment that operates in stand-by mode.
- Ensuring that clinic staff are educated on and invested in the continued operation of the system. This may include designing the system to allow for personal use such as cell phone charging or staff quarters.
For information on remote monitoring, see:
Remote Performance Monitoring Systems
Remote performance monitoring of health facility power installations increases the speed, effectiveness and value of maintenance activities.
Purchasing Energy Efficient Appliances, Equipment and Lighting
Energy efficient appliances and lighting use less energy to provide the same level of service or operation as less efficient models. Reducing energy consumption reduces expenditures on fuel and electricity, for a more cost-effective energy system. For example replacing incandescent light bulbs with compact florescent light bulbs or new LED lamps. For more information on energy efficient equipment, see:
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Energy Efficiency
Incorporating energy efficiency measures for health facilities will help to reduce future challenges associated with off-grid clinics or those with unreliable grid power supply.
Managing Staff Behavior
Staff behavior is key to conserving energy. There are many ways to reduce electricity usage without compromising the quality of health services that you provide by taking simple steps such as remembering to turn off appliances when they are not in use. Why use more power than you need to, especially when it is there only to help patients and is already in short supply?