Washington, DC – Germany based SolarWorld has awarded the Solar Electric Light Fund (SELF) an in-kind grant of solar panels totaling 100 kilowatts to support the solar electrification of five health clinics for Partners In Health (PIH) in Haiti. The clinics, operated by Zanmi Lasante (ZL), are located in the remote mountain highlands of Haiti and do not have access to the electric grid. In the aftermath of the January earthquake in Port-au-Prince , the facilities have experienced a rise in demand for health-care services, countered by dangerous fluctuations in fuel supplies needed to operate their generators.

SELF completed the first 10 kW solar-diesel hybrid system for ZL at a clinic in Boucan Carré, Haiti, in September 2009. PIH reports monthly fuel costs have since declined by 64 percent. In response to the recent disaster, PIH asked SELF to accelerate its timeline to provide solar energy systems to nine remaining PIH/ZL-run clinics in Haiti. Robert Freling, SELF’s executive director, said: “We were very pleased to have been chosen by SolarWorld as a grant recipient. This very generous support will go a long way to saving lives by providing the clinics with a stable, 24-hour power supply, and at the same time it will help PIH reduce their operating expenses.”

“A doctor can’t work without electricity and energy. You need diagnostic capacity, you need light to examine a patient, you really do need electricity to do the kind of work we’re doing,” said Dr. Paul Farmer, co-founder of PIH. “Given that you can’t do modern medicine without power, and that modern medicine is able to save lives, and that we need a safe and environmentally friendly alternative, that brings us to solar power.” The solar electrification projects will play a key role in PIH’s three-year recovery and rebuilding plan, which includes expanding capacity for specialty clinical services needed to care for earthquake survivors, as well as building and renovating public health infrastructure.

Richard LaRue, SELF’s development director, said: “SolarWorld’s gift is a huge reason why we are able to fulfill our Rebuilding Haiti plans. In addition to securing reliable care, think of what 100 kW of solar power will mean for PIH’s energy budget for years to come - just 10 kW installed at one clinic last summer dropped PIH’s fuel consumption by seven barrels a month! The solar industry’s generosity in helping make SELF’s work in Haiti possible has been terrific, and SolarWorld led the way.”

Quelle: Solar Electric Light Fund (SELF)

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