Solar Power Systems have played a strategic part in the current fight against the global COVID 19 pandemic. President Muhammadu Buhari had on 29th March 2020 in a national broadcast on COVID-19 pandemic, charged all agencies and well-meaning Nigerians to support the federal ministry of health and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in curbing the COVID-19 pandemic.

The NCDC has found the deployment of Solar Power systems to be a viable source of efficient power supply in a number of isolation centers deployed in various cities across the country. These centers are used for monitoring and treating patients infected by the novel coronavirus.

By 15th of April, 2020 (Wednesday), two completed solar hybrid mini-grid plants in Abuja and Lagos was handed over to the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 through the NCDC. Two other completed solar hybrid mini-grids were handed over on Thursday in Ogun state. The fully installed solar hybrid projects are 53.1-kilowatt power (kwp) solar mini-grid at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH) COVID-19 isolation center and the 25kwp mini grip solar plant at the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Public Health Laboratory in Lagos. There is the 20kwp solar hybrid mini-grid at the 128-bed Ikenne Isolation Centre in Ogun State, and the 10kwp mini-grid solar plant at the 100-bed Iberekodo Isolation Centre still in Ogun State

The solar systems installed will provide an alternative power solution to health centers and rapid response teams that lack access to reliable electricity. Solar systems will also be used to power basic necessities such as lighting, fans, and computers, ensuring that essential services are able to respond to the crisis, supply testing kits, and deliver urgent medical care.

According to the director of one of the centers, he said: “We are pleased to receive this very significant support. It is an exemplary intervention that will facilitate the success of the fight against the virus.“Electricity from their solar systems will ensure staff is properly kitted, able to prepare instruments and medication without compromising infection prevention protocols” he added.

Niteo Ltd was involved in the installation and commissioning of the Solar Power system in one of the isolations centers in Lagos and we are pleased to be associated with the fight against COVID 19.