From the newsletter
Zurmi General Hospital in northern Nigeria has been without access to the national electricity grid for over six years, relying instead on ageing fuel-powered generators. This reliance has led to costly, unreliable power and frequent outages, disrupting essential medical services. To address this issue, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) recently installed a 250-kilowatt solar power system.
This project showcases sustainable, climate-conscious healthcare solutions in the region, providing reliable power both day and night.
Israel Mushore, the MSF energy manager responsible for the solar installation, explains how the shift to renewable energy has enhanced the hospital's ability to deliver life-saving care. "Now, with solar power, we have a stable and reliable energy source," Mushore states.
More details
What is your role at MSF Nigeria, and how were you involved in the solar installation at Zurmi Hospital?
My name is Israel Mushore, and I have been with MSF since 2014. I specialise in solar energy systems, which I have implemented in various MSF missions. The Zurmi project was exciting to me as it was my first time working with MSF Spain and also the first time they were installing a solar system in their missions. Given my previous experience with solar systems in other MSF locations, I was selected for this position, which brought me to Nigeria to work with MSF Spain.
What energy challenges led MSF to install solar panels at Zurmi Hospital? Were there power cuts or no connection at all?
The context at Zurmi Hospital is quite unique. Although the city power infrastructure exists, it has not functioned since 2018, meaning there is virtually no city power supply to the hospital. Instead, it has been relying on old diesel generators. The fluctuations in diesel prices in Nigeria also make running the hospital costly. These generators are unreliable, leading to power supply instability. Power cuts could even occur during surgical operations, such as C-sections in our maternity unit, which posed serious risks to both the medical team and the patients. We needed a stable and reliable power supply. Additionally, we have sensitive biomedical equipment and a pharmacy cold chain for vaccines and drugs that require consistent temperatures, which were adversely affected by power interruptions.
Is the solar system sufficient to run the hospital 24/7, and what improvements have you seen since its installation?
During the design phase of the solar plant, we considered all hospital load factors and needs, which is why we opted for a 240 kW solar plant. Since its installation, we have not needed to run generators to supplement supply, even during slight increases in load. The design also accounted for equipment such as air conditioning systems, water boilers in the wards, and various biomedical equipment. There are no longer frequent power cuts disrupting surgeries in the theatre, and we no longer have to rush for portable oxygen cylinders because our oxygen concentrators now operate on solar power. The morale of the medical staff has also improved significantly. Imagine having a patient on the operating table and suddenly losing power, it was extremely distressing.
As a technical expert, how does the solar system work, especially at night or on cloudy days?
The design of our solar plant consists of solar panels that collect sunlight and convert it into energy. We have inverters that change the direct current (DC) produced by the solar panels into alternating current (AC), which is usable by the hospital. One set of inverters supplies power directly to the hospital during the day, while another set charges a battery bank with a capacity of approximately 680 kilowatt-hours. During daylight hours, we power the hospital while simultaneously charging the batteries. At night, when there is no solar production, we switch to using the stored energy in the batteries, which can provide power for up to 12 hours. In the event of continuous cloud cover that reduces solar production, we have a standby generator. Running the generator for just two to three hours is sufficient to fully charge the batteries for nighttime use.
What was the estimated cost of installing it at Zurmi Hospital?
The total installation cost was approximately $800,000. We are also making final adjustments to optimise efficiency, which may involve adding a few more components. However, even with these additions, I don’t expect the total cost to exceed $1 million for the 240 kW solar plant.
Is solar cheaper than diesel or grid electricity, in your view?
I would definitely encourage the use of solar systems. First, most parts of Africa benefit from abundant sunlight. It is free, clean, stable, and virtually infinite. Having been to Nigeria, you know how intense the sun can be, especially in the northern regions, where temperatures can reach around 40°C. Why not harness that free energy? Diesel prices are rising, and diesel generators require constant maintenance. Solar energy also eliminates both noise pollution and fossil fuel emissions. Everyone is aiming to reduce their carbon footprints, and solar is the most effective way to achieve that. If we installed solar in all our projects, we would make significant progress in minimising our environmental impact.