Aptech Installs Solar for 11 Health Centers in Uganda

Aptech Africa recently commissioned a project that included the provision of solar power for 11 health centers across Uganda. This project was funded by UNDP and the Ministry of Health.

Each of the systems included 12.24 KWp of solar power and 32.4 KWh of lithium ion battery storage. Four of the sites used ground-mounted solar panels and 7 of the sites used roof-mounted systems. All of the systems are hybrid and use both electricity for the grid, as well as solar energy to power the health centers. Growatt hybrid inverters were used for each site with built in MPPT technology, and were configured for both single and 3-phase systems to power the health centers. The battery technology has individual communication systems with integrated battery monitoring. The inverters are incorporated with an online monitoring system which provides data regarding the system parameters, PV energy generated, battery power, grid power, gird voltage, and problem shooting in case of any issue.

The systems were installed in in different districts of Uganda, including Rukunyu Health Centre in Kamwenge district, Nsiika Heath Center in Buhweju District, Bukomero Health Center in Kiboga District, Kakumiro Health Center in Kakumiro District, Kazo Heath Center in Kazo District, Bukedea Health Center and Budadiri Health Center in Sironko District, Bugobero Heath Center in Manafwa District, Anyeke Heath Center in Oyam District, Lalogi Heath Center and Kapelebyong Health Center in Omoro District.

These health centres benefit not only their home district population, but some even provide services for patients from neighboring districts. These sites were selected because of their remote location where the main grid supply is either unreliable or not available. It is very important to have reliable power at these facilities due to the life-saving services made possible by equipment requiring electricity such as operation lamps, vaccination fridges, lighting in the delivery wards and the general security of the hospital from outdoor lighting that allows the health workers move freely within the facilities to attend to patients. With availability of solar power supply, some of these facilities can store blood for accident patients, pregnant mothers, and Sickle cell patients.

Prior to this installation, all of these health centers had the challenge of unreliable power supply, making it difficult to deliver babies at night. Some deliveries during power outages were done using lights from cell phones. Health centers also struggled to store vaccines for infants, conduct lab tests, and make payments for electricity bills.

This project is very special because it impacts the health of the beneficiary communities of this generation as well as the future generation through safe deliveries by mothers and immunization of infants. It has brought peace of mind to health workers who now do their jobs without worrying about a blackout in the middle of an operation.

Aptech Africa gave extra effort on these solar systems and design. The system designs are modular and with higher capacities than actual loads in order to have high reliability to supply the loads. The system is programmed to allow supply of power at all times with an integration with the main grid in case there are maintenance activities on the solar system. All the systems under these projects are monitored online so that any fault that occurs can be addressed in time to avoid any interruptions to services.

Thanks to Aptech Africa’s work on this project, the entire population of each district can benefit from these systems. In addition, the health centers can now receive referrals from nearby districts for operations, blood transfusion and ARVs. The residents of these areas will benefit from improved health services, decreased infant mortality rates, decreased maternal mortality rates, improved services for HIV positive patients through accurate lab tests and medication access. Within the community neighboring businesses to the health centers have more economic activity going on for longer hours in the night because of the light from the facilities and security, as well as an increased customer number.