Easy Solar, a leading provider of solar and energy storage solutions in Sierra Leone, proudly announces the release of its Powering Healthcare sector report. This comprehensive report, highlights the company’s transformative work in providing reliable and sustainable energy to healthcare facilities across the country. The report can be accessed online at www.easysolar-powersolutions.org/healthcarereport.
In Sierra Leone, darkness can mean the difference between life and death. A staggering 38% of healthcare facilities lack access to electricity, and even facilities with existing electricity connections, have frequent and prolonged power outages. This has detrimental effects on the quality of care they can provide, leading to surgeons operating using the light of their mobile phones, oxygen concentrators no longer able to provide life-saving oxygen for patients in critical care, and pregnant mothers delivering new life in the dark.
But in the midst of these challenges, a quiet revolution is underway to light up hospitals and community health centres across the country, illuminating the pathway to a brighter future where reliable power is the norm and not the exception. Easy Solar, a leading provider of solar and energy storage solutions, is not merely powering healthcare facilities across the nation; it’s igniting hope, one solar panel at a time. Since the launch of Easy Solar — Power Solutions in 2019 (which develops, installs and maintains large solar PV and battery storage systems), the team has powered over 20 healthcare centres across the country.
Easy Solar — Power Solutions’ healthcare journey began in 2020, with a groundbreaking project at Masanga Hospital, in the Tonkolili district of northern Sierra Leone. The team upgraded the facility’s capacity to a total installed solar capacity of 54kWp with 105kWh of lithium battery storage. Additionally, they provided ongoing operations and maintenance after installation.
The initial success of this project paved the way for other collaborations with organisations such as USAID, UNICEF, and Doctors with Africa (CUAMM), among others, to electrify healthcare facilities across the nation. These range from small-scale 2kWp to 5kWp systems for remote community health centres (CHCs) to larger installations such as the 30kWp solar system for Holy Spirit Hospital.
Each of these systems brings the dual benefits of reliability and sustainability, ensuring that healthcare facilities can operate without the uncertainty and reduced expense of diesel generators. The shift to solar has had significant effects on improving medical service delivery and patient care. Critical medical procedures are no longer postponed or conducted under hazardous conditions, thanks to an uninterrupted power supply that ensures essential medical equipment, such as incubators, oxygen concentrators, and surgical tools, operate consistently.
Emmanuel Taylor, Medical Equipment Technician at the Kambia Govt hospital stressed the impact of the system not just on reliability and efficiency but on patient outcomes, “The system has provided the hospital with a sustainable electricity supply. Before the installation, we relied on a generator, which was often ineffective and costly. Now, babies in critical condition can be placed on oxygen support without the fear of power interruptions, a common issue with the generator. We lost many children due to power outages, but since installing this system, there have been no deaths caused by power outages in the hospital. Nurses can now perform their duties easily and move between units at any time of day. Additionally, the system has helped us save money on fuel consumption.”
Maurice Ferenkeh Koroma, Special Advisor to the Minister of Health and Sanitation, expressed the government’s vision “We are keen on going green and have set ourselves an ambitious target: by 2030, we want all our healthcare facilities to have Solar Systems as their main source of electricity. We believe that it will significantly improve service delivery and health outcomes. We commend Easy Solar and all our other health development partners for their efforts in this journey. We ask that they all accompany and align with us on this journey to accelerate the implementation of this strategic vision. As we all do this, we must collaboratively find a sustainable way to address and ensure effective operations and maintenance of the solar systems installed. We look forward to further collaboration with Easy Solar and other partners to continue accelerating the electrification of healthcare facilities in Sierra Leone.”
Easy Solar’s experience in powering Sierra Leone’s healthcare sector has revealed key challenges to electrification, including inaccurate project designs due to late technical partner involvement and the neglect of long-term operation and maintenance (O&M) costs. Easy Solar addresses these issues by contributing early-stage insights and developing innovative O&M models. Additionally, they are collaborating with companies developing energy-efficient medical appliances tailored for off-grid facilities, further enhancing the sustainability and reach of their solar solutions.
Pawan Kumar, the Head Technician for Power Solutions highlighted one of the main hurdles the team had to overcome “The terrain in Sierra Leone presents significant challenges. From the complexities of the supply chain to the delivery of systems on-site, we operate in a demanding environment. However, Easy Solar has successfully established a robust supply chain with reliable suppliers for all components required for solar installations, ensuring efficiency and effectiveness throughout our operations.”
Easy Solar’s impact extends far beyond the walls of healthcare facilities. By providing reliable energy, they are empowering communities, strengthening the healthcare system, and contributing to the country’s overall development. As the company continues to expand its reach, it intends to partner with the government and other stakeholders to ensure reliable electricity access and healthcare for all, aligned with the Ministry of Health’s 2030 agenda of sustainable energy in all healthcare facilities. With each solar panel installed, Easy Solar is not just illuminating hospitals and clinics; but a path toward a healthier, brighter future for all.
Easy Solar
Easy Solar is the leading solar and energy storage solutions provider in Sierra Leone. The company proudly operates one of the most extensive and impactful fleets of solar PV and energy storage projects in the country. Since its inception, Easy Solar has been committed to delivering affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy to off-grid communities and critical facilities, improving lives, and fostering development across the region. (Visit www.easysolar-power solutions.org for more info)