Sometimes, newborn babies cannot breathe on their own. In such cases, they rely on mechanical ventilators. The reliable operation of these devices depends directly on an uninterrupted power supply. At a perinatal centre in one of Ukraine’s frontline cities, the lives of the smallest patients are now supported not only by the power grid and generators, but also by the facility’s own solar power plant equipped with battery storage.
The solar power plant was installed on the roof of the hospital building as part of the Ray of Hope project, a joint initiative of the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine, the Ministry of Health of Ukraine and the European Commission. International donors provide solar panels, while the Ukraine Energy Support Fund finances additional equipment and installation works. In this particular case, the facility began generating its own electricity thanks to a grant from Sweden. The total installed capacity of the solar panels exceeds 100 kW.
The solar power plant supplies electricity to buildings housing intensive care units, operating theatres, several delivery rooms and other departments. These include two four-storey buildings. In the event of a power outage, the system automatically and seamlessly switches the power supply between the grid and the solar power plant. Medical equipment is protected from voltage fluctuations that could affect its stable operation and service life.
The solar power plant remains valuable even on overcast days. If the grid supply is interrupted, the facility first switches to the batteries integrated into the solar power system and uses a generator only once the batteries are depleted.
The new alternative power source also helps the hospital reduce costs. During the summer, electricity generated by the solar panels covered almost all the needs of the connected buildings. The facility drew significantly less electricity from the grid, which was immediately reflected in its electricity bills.
According to Olha, the hospital’s Medical Director, applying to participate in the project was straightforward: the facility only needed to submit an application through the regional health department. An important factor was the engineers’ assessment confirming that the building’s roof was suitable for installing solar panels. Installation was carried out in stages and did not require any additional expenditure by the hospital.
Since the beginning of the year, 53 healthcare facilities across Ukraine have started generating their own electricity using solar power plants under the Ray of Hope project.
