Research Database

Access to sustainable energy source is crucial for healthcare facilities to deliver their services. Hybrid solar energy systems (HSES) are seen as a strong solution given the proximity of the Philippines to the equator. This study addresses the knowledge gap in the estimated energy consumption profile of Philippine rural health units (RHU) using easily replicable questionnaire and work sampling technique. The estimated energy consumption profile was used to determine the optimal HSES design and benefits. The RHU of Los Baños, Laguna was considered, and simulation of different energy system configurations was performed in the HOMER Pro software. Two scenarios were considered: a grid-connected and an off-grid RHU. The estimated average scaled load of the facility is ∼92 kWh per day. Estimates were validated against actual consumption, with 15–21% error. Results of the simulations show that a solar photovoltaic panel-grid system is optimal for the grid-connected scenario and can reduce cost of electricity by ∼35%. Meanwhile, a solar photovoltaic panel-generator-battery system is optimal for the off-grid scenario and can reduce cost of electricity by ∼61%. In both scenarios, the solar component is estimated to contribute ∼71–85% of the total annual energy production and can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.