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Standards and Technical Specifications

Properly drafted specifications and standards can allow each energy system to be tailored to meet the needs of the facility while still ensuring best practice design and installation protocols are followed.

The procurement and installation of energy systems is the first important step to ensure optimal performance and reliability. The size, model and make, and physical installation of system components are all crucial elements to proper system operation. As standard-setting bodies for the health care sector, government health ministries should seriously consider adding system design standards to its regulations. It is important, however, to not confuse design standards with a “one size fits all approach.”

Energy system design specifications can be developed using the energy audit data sheets. The specification should keep the size and capacity of the health centre in sight. Energy Specialists preparing the bid specifications should have no bias for a a particular technology or company for the job. Finished specifications should be offered by funding entities and facilities as a package to tendering companies to enable fair bidding on equivalent specified equipment.

While developing energy system specifications, energy system designers and preparers of bid documents, should address the following:

System Voltage

The specifications should clearly indicate the system voltage.

PV Array

Specification and bid documents should provide clear instructions with regard to the array size and type of solar modules required.

Solar PV Array Mounting

Mounting structures will vary depending on the location, roofing materials and specific circumstances of the site (shade, security, etc.). Relevant site details should be included in specification and bid documents.

Batteries

Because of the rapidly changing nature of battery technology, and the wide variety of batteries available in the market, specification and bid packages should clearly state the type and size of batteries required.

Battery Installation

The specification and bid documents should clearly state the type of battery enclosure (or rack) required for each PV system.

Charge Regulation

The specification and bid documents should clearly state the required ratings of charge regulators (charge controllers) to be used in systems.

Inverters

Virtually all clinic systems require inverters for the purpose of powering 240AC appliances. The features required of the inverter should be clearly laid out in the specification and bid documents.

Hybrid System Inverters

The specification and bid document should clearly state the required ratings of inverters to be used in the systems.

Small System Inverters

Smaller inverters are normally used to power one or more appliances in a particular location. The specification and bid documents should state which appliance(s) that the inverter will power.

Generator(s)

The specification and bid document should specify the size and type of generators to be supplied for use in systems.

Fuel Type

The specification and bid documents should provide information about the location of the generator (including housing and necessary mounting information).

Lighting Equipment

The bid document should specify the size and type of lighting equipment to be supplied in the system.

Switches, Connections and Cabling

Designers/bid prepares should pay attention to the wiring that carries power from the equipment center to the actual loads.

Examples

The following are example bid documents for health facility energy equipment:

Additional Resources