Power Africa has announced the disbursement of $2.6million in grants to solar companies to provide off-grid electricity to 288 healthcare facilities across sub-Saharan Africa.
“These grants demonstrate the Power Africa model in action. We use a modest amount of public funding to de-risk the transaction, thus opening the door for private investment,” Lead for Power Africa’s Beyond the Grid initiative David Stonehill.
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Here Is What You Need To Know
- Stonehill said USAID through the grants is investing in a set of pilot projects that demonstrates how healthcare electrification can be delivered in a commercially sustainable manner, with strong private sector involvement.
- According to the World Bank Report Electricity Access in Sub-Saharan Africa: Uptake, Reliability and Complementary Factors for Economic impact, almost 60% of healthcare facilities in sub-Saharan Africa do not have access to electricity. Of those that do, only 34% of hospitals and 28% of health clinics have reliable, 24-hour access.
“Off-grid solar technology offers a clean, affordable and smart solution to electrify healthcare facilities located beyond the reach of national electricity grids. Power Africa’s experience shows that off-grid solar energy systems can be rapidly deployed to even the most rural facilities,” said Power Africa acting coordinator Mark Carrato.
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A Look At The Off-grid Companies Invested Into
- Havenhill Synergy: electrify 21 rural healthcare facilities in peri-urban communities with limited electricity access in Oyo State, Nigeria. Using a energy-as-a-service business model they will provide long-term operation and maintenance of the solar energy systems.
- KYA-Energy Group: electrify 20 healthcare centres in Togo. They will also provide automated solar handwashing stations for infection prevention and solar phone charging stations to generate additional income.
- Muhanya Solar Ltd: partner with the Churches Health Association of Zambia to provide electricity access to 7 rural healthcare facilities. They will also electrify staff housing to generate revenue to operate and maintain the systems.
- Nanoé: electrify 35 rural healthcare facilities in Madagascar’s Ambanja and Ambilobe districts. Their nano-grids will be anchored around the facilities and connected to staff housing. Nanoé will also sell electricity to the surrounding communities to generate income to operate and maintain the nano-grids.
- OffGridBox: provide renewable energy and clean water to 6 rural clinics in Rwanda. Using a pay-as-you-go model they will also provide electricity and clean water to the surround communities.
- OnePower: electrify 7 rural health facilities in Lesotho. The facilities will serve as anchor loads for mini-grids which can then also provide electricity access to rural communities serviced by the facilities.
- PEG Solar: provide energy access to 91 rural community healthcare facilities in Ghana. PEG Solar will adopt a private sector approach, which should enable rapid electrification while reducing the upfront financial burden of transitioning to solar energy.
- SolarWorks!: electrify 92 rural healthcare facilities in Sofala province, Mozambique. They will cover operational and maintenance costs of the solar energy system for five years.
- Zuwa Energy: install solar energy solutions in 9 healthcare facilities in Malawi. They will also electrify staff housing, in hopes of increasing staff wellbeing and retention rates.
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