Tag: solar power

Netcare Group Signs Landmark Clean Energy Agreement

Netcare well on track with environmental strategy targets

Photo by Sungrow Emea on Unsplash

In a tangible step towards further reducing its carbon footprint, the Netcare Group has successfully agreed commercial terms for a Renewable Energy (RE) Supply Agreement with independent clean energy solutions provider NOA Group Trading (NOA).

Netcare chief executive officer Dr Richard Friedland noted that the development is a significant milestone in realising the Group’s environmental sustainability strategy, which has made considerable strides since its implementation in 2013.

“Improvement of our energy efficiency initiatives remains a key focus area of this strategy. Netcare has also committed to procuring 100% of its purchased electrical energy from renewable energy sources by 2030, supporting the Race to Zero global campaign with targets that exceed the requirements of the Science Based Target initiative (SBTi) aimed at limiting global warming.

“This transaction represents Phase 1 of achieving this aim and includes six of our facilities where RE will be wheeled through the electricity grid from a combination of wind and solar farms, covering up to 100% of energy consumption at these facilities. This represents approximately 11% of the Group’s total energy consumption which is currently being supplied by Eskom’s predominantly coal fired power stations.

“In combination with other initiatives already implemented under Netcare’s sustainability programme, this transaction will increase the proportion of Netcare’s total energy consumption that is derived from RE sources to around 26%,” he says.

Dr Friedland noted that Netcare’s management teams are actively working towards finding viable solutions to supply RE to the remaining municipal-connected sites in the Group while continuing to build on existing renewable energy initiatives. The Group’s environmental sustainability programme also continues to demonstrate an impressive return on investment to date, illustrating the commercial opportunities in environmentally conscious engineering.

According to Karel Cornelissen, chief executive officer of NOA Group, renewable energy will be wheeled through the national grid to the six designated Netcare facilities via the existing Eskom distribution transmission network and delivery of renewable energy to these facilities is expected to commence by the first quarter of 2026. “The agreement represents a significant step towards a clean-energy future by one of South Africa’s healthcare industry leaders, and we are pleased to partner with Netcare on this crucial advancement,” he says. 

Netcare joined the Race to Zero global campaign in 2021 and was the first healthcare institution in Africa to do so. The campaign strives to rally leadership and support from businesses, cities, regions and investors for a healthy, resilient, zero carbon recovery that prevents future threats, creates jobs, and unlocks inclusive, sustainable growth.

“The devastation of climate change to the environment and among communities is already resulting in enormous hardship and tragedy not only in South Africa but around the world. We cannot sit idly by while this happens. Urgent action must be taken by implementing innovative solutions,” says Dr Friedland.  

“During the past decade, Netcare has actively been engaged in several planned energy, waste and water management initiatives. This meaningful transaction is yet another step towards implementing appropriate green solutions while contributing towards a healthier environment for the people of South Africa in the decades to come and beyond,” he concludes.   

Solar-powered Oxygen System Saves Lives in Somalia

A newly installed solar-powered medical oxygen system at a hospital in central Somalia is proving effective in saving lives, Somali and World Health Organization doctors told Voice of America.

The innovative solar oxygen system, the first of its kind in the country, was installed at Hanaano hospital, in the central town of Dhusamareb a year ago. Doctors say the system is having an impact and helping save the lives of very young patients.

“This innovation is giving us promise and hopes,” says Dr Mamunur Rahman Malik, WHO Somalia Representative.

According to Dr Malik, 171 patients received oxygen at the hospital from the solar-powered system from February to October 2021. Of these, only three patients died, and five others were referred to other hospitals.

Every year some 15 000 to 20 000 deaths occur in Somalia among children under five years of age due to pneumonia, said Dr Malik, making it the deadliest disease among under-fives.

The director of Hanaano hospital, Dr Mohamed Abdi, said the innovation is making a difference.

“It has helped a lot, it has saved more than a hundred people who received the service,” he said to VOA Somali.

“It was a problem for the children under one year and the children who are born six months to get enough oxygen. Now we are not worried about oxygen availability if the electricity goes out because there are the oxygen concentrators.”

One patient was Abdiaziz Omar Abdi, admitted to the hospital on January 16 with severe pneumonia and was struggling to breathe normally. The oxygen rate in his body had dropped to 60%, Dr Abdi said. Doctors immediately put him on oxygen along with ampicillin and dexamethasone medications. When discharged three days later, he was breathing normally. His oxygen was up to 90%.

Dr Malik said the oxygen is being used to treat a wide range of medical conditions – asphyxia, pneumonia, injuries, trauma, and road traffic accidents.

“We have seen in other countries that use of solar-powered medical oxygen (if applied in a timely manner) can save up to 35% of deaths from childhood pneumonia,” he said, adding that it could save the lives of at least 7000 children who die “needlessly” due to pneumonia.

The initiative to install solar-powered bio-medical equipment at Hanaano hospital emerged during the height of COVID in 2020, at a time when people were dying due to respiratory problems. Hospitals were unable to keep up with case loads and the cost of a cylinder of oxygen rose to between $400 to $600, and only 20% of health facilities had any kind of access to oxygen, said Dr Malik.

“If you look at the current situation, as of today Somalia needs close to 3000 or 4000 cubic metres of oxygen per day. So, oxygen was the biggest need in all the hospitals.”

Solar power can also be used for medical refrigerators, and their use is becoming widespread in Africa.

Source: Voice of America