5 months ago
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In a determination to curb energy expenditure successful authorities wellness facilities, the Health Department has prioritised the adoption of star powerfulness crossed Karnataka. Karnataka has go the archetypal State successful India to instal star powerfulness units successful arsenic galore arsenic 3,600 wellness centres wrong a year, achieving 80% to 85% savings successful energy bills, officials said.
The installation of star powerfulness units is being supported nether Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds. The task is being implemented nether the ‘Saura Swasthya’ strategy successful concern with SELCO Foundation. It is expected to payment much than 3 crore agrarian residents by enabling uninterrupted powerfulness proviso to authorities hospitals.
Since its motorboat successful November 2024, star powerfulness units person been installed successful astir 3,000 wellness centres, with implicit 1,150 facilities afloat solarised. With ongoing installation enactment successful astir 1,300 sub-centres, the section expects to scope 3,700 centres by the extremity of the year.
Through the partnership, Karnataka aims to solarise 5,000 wellness facilities by 2026. These see 2,877 sub-centres, 1,971 Primary Health Centres (PHCs), 28 Urban PHCs, 12 Community Health Centres (CHCs), and 112 taluk hospitals.
While sub-centres person rooftop star units ranging from 0.25 kW to 1 kW capacity, PHCs are equipped with 4 to 5 kW units. Taluk hospitals are being fitted with systems of up to 10 kW capacity.
The project, implemented astatine an estimated outgo of ₹120 crore, has already yielded powerfulness savings of implicit 3 megawatts and reduced energy bills by up to 70% successful the facilities covered truthful far. The section foresees savings of astir ₹50 lakh each period — implicit ₹100 crore successful 10 years — by reducing dependency connected grid powerfulness and diesel generators.
Carbon reduction
Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao told The Hindu connected December 5 that the inaugural volition guarantee 24×7 powerfulness availability astatine wellness facilities, enabling captious instrumentality and services to relation without disruption.
“The task volition assistance fortify healthcare transportation successful agrarian pockets. Saura Swasthya volition not lone guarantee uninterrupted healthcare services, but besides pb to immense savings successful energy bills,” helium said.
Long-term functionality
Beyond installation, SELCO Foundation is focusing connected ensuring the semipermanent functionality and extended lifespan of the systems done innovative cognition and attraction (O and M) strategies. Remote Monitoring Systems (RMS) person been deployed to alteration real-time tracking and preventive maintenance.
Additionally, a ‘Saura e-Mitra’ mobile exertion is being utilized for attraction support. Medical unit tin rise work requests done the app, which are routed done a centralised strategy for timely action. So far, 626 specified complaints person been logged, 314 of which person been resolved. More than 2,000 unit person been trained successful the attraction of star units and the monitoring system.
SELCO Foundation manager Huda Jaffer said Karnataka has go the archetypal State successful the state to found a dedicated Solar O&M Learning Centre for wellness institutions. Located successful Raichur, the centre aims to physique section method capableness for continuous and decentralised maintenance.
“This inaugural is reducing energy costs, lowering CO₂ emissions, and strengthening uninterrupted healthcare services for last-mile communities,” helium said.
