Electricity shortages

Rural primary healthcare centres in Nigeria face chronic electricity shortages that compromise the cold chain required for storing vaccines and temperature-sensitive medicines. Frequent power outages expose these medical products to temperatures outside the recommended +2°C to +8°C range, causing potency loss, treatment failures, and increased public-health risks. The project addresses this critical challenge by providing a reliable off-grid alternative capable of ensuring uninterrupted refrigeration in remote locations where grid power is unstable or unavailable. The project adopts a systematic engineering approach involving load estimation, solar resource assessment, component sizing, and prototype assembly. A stand-alone solar
photovoltaic system—comprising a 570 W panel, a 12 V/220 Ah deep-cycle battery, a 1 kVA pure sine-wave inverter, and a 30 A charge controller—was designed and constructed based on the energy requirements of a 60 W medical refrigerator. Field measurements were used to verify solar panel performance, battery charging behaviour, inverter compatibility, and the system’s ability to maintain cold-chain temperatures under realistic operating conditions. Testing showed that the solar PV system reliably powered the refrigerator and maintained continuous operation within the safe temperature range. The battery demonstrated an autonomy period of approximately 26 hours, while the solar array consistently delivered sufficient current for daily recharge. Results confirm that the system is technically viable, cost-effective, and capable of protecting temperature-sensitive drugs in rural healthcare settings. The findings validate solar-powered refrigeration as a sustainable solution to cold-chain failures in off-grid environments.