Energy audits assess current needs, but loads increase over time. Accounting for change is more cost effective during the initial system design.

Once a facility has analyzed the energy requirements of its day-to-day operations, it must also determine how the energy demands are likely to change over the life of the energy system. Health facility managers must think strategically, in consultation with stakeholders, about the possibility that energy demands may increase due to the addition of patients, extended operating hours, or new services.

Ultimately, all stakeholders will have to agree on a target energy load for the facility, which will feed into the system design process. The target load will directly impact the cost of the energy system. The addition of loads to a battery-based system is one of the most common causes of system failure. Once an energy system has been designed around a given set of agreed-upon loads, the loads cannot be increased without modification of the system (addition of batteries, solar panels, etc.).

• USAID

  Energy System Components

  Batteries and Battery Management

  Batteries provide backup power during gaps in electricity generation. They are critical for some energy systems but are expensive and may require maintenance or replacement. Learn more

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  Tool

  Load Calculation and System Optimization

  This exclusive online version of the HOMER Powering Health Tool evaluates hybrid power systems to determine the most cost-effective options for delivering continuous electricity to health facilities. Use the tool