The Solar Electric Light Fund (SELF) announced that SolarWorld has awarded SELF an in-kind grant of solar photovoltaic (PV) 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 safe and environmentally friendly alternative

"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 whole notion of Partners In Health is based on partnership, and we’ve found an ideal partner in SELF." 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.

SolarWorld’s Solar2World program makes contributions to regional development in impoverished communities throughout Africa. Since 2008, Solar2World’s solar energy grants have supported a water pumping project in South Africa, a computer training center in Uganda, a hospital in Eastern Congo, a vocational training center in Rwanda, an HIV/AIDS orphanage in Malawi, and more.

"With SolarWorld’s ongoing commitment to assisting developing communities in need, it was only natural for us to respond to the devastation in Haiti", said Kevin Kilkelly, president of U.S. sales for SolarWorld, the largest U.S. manufacturer of solar panels. "We’re happy to have such great partners on the ground to implement our contribution, and we hope this sets a positive example. This is the time for our industry to step up and help Haiti build back better."

Securing reliable care with solar power

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."