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Existing solar project at the UN Humanitarian Hub at the Malakal Teaching Hospital, South Sudan (Image Source: Omar Mohammad Patan at International Organization for Migration)

 

South Sudan is to have a second hospital powered by solar energy, funded through a Peace Renewable Energy Credit (P-REC) transaction.

The largest P-REC transaction in South Sudan funded the solar electrification of Malakal Teaching Hospital, which was completed in December 2022.

This second P-REC agreement will fund Bor State Hospital’s solar electrification.

In March, UN Volunteers serving with the peacekeeping mission in South Sudan delivered food, protective equipment, cleaning products and beds to Bor State Hospital, the main referral facility in Jonglei State.

Malakal Teaching Hospital is the only referral hospital for the Upper Nile states in South Sudan.

Solar providing an alternative in South Sudan

The hospital is run by the national ministry of health and covers an area of approximately three million inhabitants.

Early in 2022, the first-ever Peace Renewable Energy Credit (P-REC) transaction in South Sudan was announced, executed by US-based 3Degrees and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) with support from Energy Peace Partners (EPP). 

Under this agreement, 3Degrees obtained the P-RECs generated from a 700kWp solar plant in IOM’s Humanitarian Hub in Malakal. Global technology company Block, which focuses on financial services, purchased the P-RECs from 3Degrees.

The arrangement enabled IOM to fund the solar electrification of the Malakal Teaching Hospital.

This area was destroyed in the country’s civil war and now houses one of the largest camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in South Sudan

“The team is pleased to announce that the hospital’s new solar system is now operational and is projected to reduce fuel consumption by at least 85% annually,” said 3Degrees.

“3Degrees, IOM, and EPP collaborated to replicate a second P-REC issuance in South Sudan, in which additional P-RECs from the solar plant in IOM’s Humanitarian Hub in Malakal will support the solar electrification of Bor State Hospital.” 

Replacing diesel generators

Block also served as the purchaser of this subsequent batch of P-RECs. Currently the hospital operates with minimal, undependable electricity.

“This project will ensure a 24/7 power supply for the hospital’s critical care units and enable the hospital to provide reliable, safe services to the community, including gradually opening night services. 

“Bor State Hospital currently relies on four diesel generators that run computers, fans in each of the wards, refrigerators, sterilisation materials in the operating room, lights, surgical equipment, and more.”

Addressing socio-economic needs

P-RECs are international renewable energy certificates (I-RECs) with a supplementary quality label certifying unique socio-economic co-benefits associated with new renewable energy generation. 

“They are issued from qualifying projects in target countries characterised by high risk of conflict, high vulnerability to climate change and low levels of electrification. 

“P-RECs serve to monetise renewable energy generation from eligible projects in order to unlock private sector capital for high-impact renewable energy projects in fragile, energy-poor countries.”

Amy Pope, IOM Deputy Director General said: “As a global community, we must do all we can to build the resilience of the most vulnerable people so they can cope with the impacts of a changing climate and conflict. 

“For us, the clean energy transition means transitioning our own facilities to cleaner energy sources and providing displaced people with sustainable energy so they can cook, light their homes and get access to critical healthcare services. It also means using clean energy as a tool for peace.”

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