• Aptech Africa installs 252 kWp hybrid solar system at Eritrean hospital
  
• System ensures stable power for medical oxygen unit in Mendefera
  
• WHO: Half of Sub-Saharan hospitals lack reliable electricity access
  

Solar developer Aptech Africa announced Monday the successful installation of a new hybrid solar system at Mendefera Hospital in Eritrea. This system, designed for the hospital's oxygen production unit, delivers 251.97 kilowatt-peak (kWp) of power and includes 460.8 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of storage.

The system combines solar power with the national grid to ensure a regular supply for the equipment needed to produce medical oxygen, guaranteeing the continuity of an essential service.

The significance of this installation extends beyond its electrical capacity. According to World Health Organization (WHO) data, nearly 1 billion people in low- and middle-income countries use health facilities with unreliable or no electricity.

In Sub-Saharan Africa, the situation is more critical, with only half of all hospitals having stable electrical access, a situation that is even more pronounced in rural areas.

The WHO states that electricity is indispensable for ensuring the reliability of medical services. Energy availability determines access to basic care such as medical oxygen, vaccination, safe childbirth, and emergency services, in addition to the most elementary services like lighting, communications, and the supply of drinking water.

In this context, the installation at Mendefera shows how a solar-based hybrid solution can reduce the risk of interruptions and secure services. This type of system can provide a concrete response to the difficulties faced by many facilities with limited energy access by relying on a local, sustainable, and often less expensive resource than alternatives like diesel generators.

Abdoullah Diop