An Overview of Energy Access Solutions for Rural Healthcare Facilities

Abstract

Quality in healthcare service is essential in giving rural dwellers a good standard of living. It has been established that many rural locations in Sub-Saharan Africa away from the grid connection have difficulty accessing electricity. The inaccessibility of reliable energy and essential medical equipment was the leading barrier to improved healthcare delivery in these rural locations. The deficiency of basic medical equipment to power essential services due to limited or unreliable electricity access has reduced rural healthcare workers’ care capabilities, resulting in higher mortality rates. This paper, therefore, reviews the existing energy solutions for rural healthcare facilities, thereby analysing different approaches and the geographical energy mix and ascertaining the effectiveness of various techniques and energy mix as solutions to effective healthcare delivery in healthcare centres. Hybrid Renewable Energy Sources (HRES) microsystems, like microgrids incorporated with solar panels and battery, is identified to ensure higher and more reliable energy access in rural healthcare centres. At the same time, the adoption of Demand Side Management (DSM) in the HRES deployment in countryside healthcare facilities is reported to decrease the initial cost of installation and improve efficiency. Lastly, in improving energy access, rural electrification planning is achieved through modelling tools related to energy access modelling.

Powering Rural Healthcare With Sustainable Energy: A Global Review of Solar Solutions

“…These generators provide intermittent and unreliable power, compromising the operation of medical equipment, refrigeration of vaccines and medicines, and the overall quality of healthcare services. Power interruptions can lead to equipment malfunctions and treatment delays, risking patients' lives (Guruswamy, 2011;Olatomiwa et al, 2022). Moreover, the use of kerosene lamps for lighting in healthcare settings can result in poor visibility, making diagnoses and treatments more challenging.…”

“…Solar systems allow healthcare facilities to become less reliant on external sources of energy, enhancing their self-sufficiency. Consistent power supply enables healthcare providers to deliver better care, reducing treatment delays and improving patient outcomes (Franco, Shaker, Kalubi, & Hostettler, 2017;Olatomiwa et al, 2022;Panwar, Kaushik, & Kothari, 2011).…”

“…Solar-powered vaccine refrigerators ensure the safe storage of vaccines, reducing wastage and enabling effective vaccination programs. Medicines that require refrigeration, such as insulin and certain antibiotics, remain effective, leading to better healthcare outcomes (Dimitrievski et al, 2021;Olatomiwa, Blanchard, Mekhilef, & Akinyele, 2018;Olatomiwa et al, 2022). Many rural healthcare facilities equipped with solar energy systems can extend their operating hours into the evening.…”

Optimal Planning and Deployment of Hybrid Renewable Energy to Rural Healthcare Facilities in Nigeria

“…Many countries are still in a deficit of electrical energy supply needed to meet the demands of their population, having as little as 137.53 kWh per capita per year, resulting in as little as 15.6 kW available per head in 2021 [5]. This low energy output thus has a very high negative impact on healthcare facilities, especially those in rural settlements [6]. In order to meet SDG7 by 2030, significant and purposeful efforts need to be directed towards providing electrical energy to rural areas, as most people without access to electricity reside in these areas [7].…”

“…Over the years, researchers have not ceased efforts to ensure that alternate sources of energy, particularly renewables, are deployed to provide energy solutions in our economy today to help mitigate energy security issues, thus giving rise to the integration of these alternative energy sources [11]. Renewable energy systems are considered a necessity for rural healthcare facilities' operational efficiency; most of these remote health centres are located where the grid system cannot be accessed, thus hampering the operation of primary health services in rural areas [6].…”