The First Solar-Powered Hospital Fires Up In Haiti

In collaboration with the Clinton Foundation, the clean energy provider NRG Energy has given Haiti its first solar power plant. The Clinton Foundation is providing support to allow Haiti expand its clean energy infrastructure, and the new panel system installed at one of the island’s premier hospitals bolsters these ongoing efforts at expanding green infrastructure.

The solar panel power system has been installed at Hospital Bernard Mevs, the only trauma, critical care and rehabilitation hospital in Haiti.

Four leading solar technology manufacturers -- SMA (News - Alert), Unirac, Trina and Sunora Energy -- have made important contributions in the form of tools and technologies for the timely completion of the project.

Previously the hospital used to depend solely on a grid power system to meet all its energy needs for running its lifesaving equipment and IT infrastructure. But it became grossly unreliable, jeopardizing the care and safety for its 10,000+ patients. The solar power is expected to help improve the quality and reliability of health care delivery to these patients.

“Bernard Mevs is the only hospital in Haiti with neonatal, pediatric and adult ICUs equipped with lifesaving ventilators and life-support technology, requiring a reliable source of power. This solar energy helps guarantee the safety of our precious Haitian neighbors afflicted with catastrophic injuries and diseases while in the care of our Bernard Mevs colleagues,” Dr. Barth A. Green, President and co-founder of Project Medishare, said in a statement.

The new clean and green solar power system will significantly reduce the hospital’s needs for fossil-fuel based electricity. The reliable power back up system will keep the hospital’s equipment assets in good health, helping them avoid regular power surges or outages that can be damaging. The clean source of energy will also enable the hospital to minimize its carbon footprint.

Earlier this year, NRG Energy dedicated a solar photovoltaic installation and opened the NRG Playground at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Charter School for Science and Technology in New Orleans. The installation, donated by NRG, provides sun-powered energy and education to enhance the experience for the students, and demonstrates how solar is a viable energy option for a new generation of accessible sustainable projects.