From the newsletter
Reliable power remains a major barrier to healthcare delivery in Africa. Three-quarters of health facilities face electricity gaps in Mali. A new report by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) finds that decentralised solar systems could bridge the gap, estimating a total investment of $42 million to electrify primary and referral health centres nationwide.
In the report, IRENA notes that limited use of medical equipment, unreliable vaccine refrigeration and inadequate lighting for critical care are further intensified by climate change. Extreme weather events disrupt health services and increase the incidence of diseases.
The study highlights the business opportunity in climate-resilient health systems. “Investing in health facilities’ solar-powered electricity access will improve health outcomes and strengthen rural development and resilience.”
More details
The study was developed in collaboration with Mali’s Ministry of Health and Social Development and the Ministry of Energy and Water. The report, titled Electrification with renewables: Enhancing healthcare delivery in Mali aims to demonstrate how solar power can close energy gaps in health facilities, with $42 million in investment needs creating supply chain and private sector opportunities.
According to the survey of 60 facilities, 54% of community health centres use solar photovoltaic systems with batteries as their main source of power, while 95% of referral centres and hospitals depend on grid supply backed by solar and diesel. Power outages remain widespread. The report found 93% of facilities had compromised services, 96.7% reported staff discomfort and 81% faced problems maintaining the vaccine cold chain.
The proposed solar system designs include 4.2 kilowatt peak for critical loads in rural clinics, 42 kilowatt peak for referral centres and up to 90 kilowatt peak for regional hospitals. Full electrification of 1,628 community health centres would cost $20.1 million while 61 referral centres would require $3.6 million and six regional hospitals $825,180. Powering only critical loads across facilities would cost $18.4 million.
For implementation, IRENA recommends a dedicated Solar Programme Unit inside the Ministry of Health and Social Development, with technical support from the Ministry of Energy and Water. The unit would oversee procurement, standards and long-term financing. “Operation and maintenance should extend beyond annual contracts; facility staff should receive training in basic maintenance and reporting, guided by clearly defined standard operating procedures,” the report says.
The business opportunities extend across supply chains, from photovoltaic panels and inverters to vaccine refrigerators and monitoring systems. The report advises prioritising local vendors and partnerships between private sector suppliers and public facilities to ensure financial sustainability. Mali’s model, combining health and energy planning, could be applied across Africa, where health centres face similar electricity gaps and climate risks.
Our take
The electrification of Mali’s health facilities creates clear entry points for renewable energy companies, suppliers and investors to scale decentralised solar in fragile markets.
IRENA’s emphasis on prioritising vendors from Mali signals that foreign firms must collaborate locally if they are to penetrate the market.