ENEL GREEN POWER GIVES RENEWABLE ENERGY TO NEW PAEDIATRIC SURGERY HOSPITAL IN UGANDA
Enel Green Power (EGP) is participating in the project of Emergency and the architect Renzo Piano for the construction of a paediatric surgery hospital in Entebbe, Uganda, which will become the new centre of paediatric excellence in Africa.
EGP will provide 2,600 thin-film photovoltaic modules manufactured at its 3Sun factory in Catania, for a total of 289.24 kWp (kilowatt peak). The plant, which can be connected to the local medium voltage distribution grid, will give the new hospital energy autonomy and sustainability.
“We are proud to participate in this project, which will allow thousands of African children to be operated on and cared for”, says Francesco Venturini, Enel’s Head of Global Renewable Energies Division Enel Green Power. “For our company, social responsibility also means being present and making a tangible contribution to important initiatives for the populations of the countries in which we operate. The hospital, also thanks to our photovoltaic system, will boast high energy efficiency standards and will be an example of sustainability and Italian technological excellence”.
The photovoltaic system will be installed on the roof of the hospital in such a way as to ensure its integration with the hospital’s architecture, and it will also shelter the underlying structures from sunlight and rain. EGP will provide both the photovoltaic modules and the engineering and site assistance services during installation and testing, as well as covering the cost of transporting the panels.
EGP has involved three other Italian donors in the construction of the plant: Santerno (supply and transportation of inverters and other materials), Agatos (design and testing assistance), Terni Energia (supply and transportation of materials, installation and testing).
The new hospital, designed by the architect Renzo Piano, is fully integrated in the surrounding environment. It will have three operating rooms and 78 beds and will make a significant contribution to improving health standards in the area, as well as serving as a focal point for children with surgical needs from all over Africa. The hospital will also be a training centre for young doctors and nurses from Uganda and neighbouring countries.
Africa is a major area of development for EGP, which is currently present in South Africa with over 400 MW of installed capacity and also has development projects in Zambia, Kenya and Morocco.
