Ensuring Hospital Power Security: The Vital Role of Advanced Energy Storage Systems

Hospitals play a critical role in safeguarding billions of human lives and supporting the health of individuals across the world. However, hospitals need a stable power supply to carry out their operations and help all the patients. Even a momentary power outage in a hospital can result in drastic consequences, as critical life-support systems, diagnostic equipment, and essential services depend on electricity. Therefore, some hospitals are transitioning towards advanced energy storage systems that allow them to store electricity for emergency purposes so that any power outage does not hinder critical operations in these health facilities.

Let's see what the dire consequences of power outages in hospitals are and how can advanced energy storage systems address these issues:

Profound Impacts of Power Outages on Hospitals

Power outages in hospitals bring a number of challenges that drastically reduce patient safety. Here is how:

1. Paralysis of Medical Equipment

Nowadays, almost all critical healthcare devices rely on electricity to function effectively. For instance, ventilators, monitors, hemodialysis, and countless other machines become useless during a power failure, leaving patients vulnerable. For those in intensive care, this could be a matter of life and death.

Beyond patient care, frequent outages expose hospitals to risks of data loss, as electronic medical records can become inaccessible or corrupted, including electronic medical records, test results, and imaging materials. This not only disrupts continuous patient treatment but may also trigger information security issues such as data breaches or tampering.

2. Disruption of Medical Services

During a vast majority of healthcare procedures, every second is critically important as even a tiny bit of delay in these operations can have drastic consequences on the health of patients. Imaging devices, laboratory tests, and surgical tools all come to a standstill during an electricity outage, which puts the lives of critically ill patients on the line. Furthermore, the storage of refrigerated medications and vaccines requires a stable power supply. Power outages can render these medications ineffective, thereby affecting patient treatment efficacy.

3. Impact on Patient Experience and Trust

Patients and their families anticipate a secure and reliable environment in hospitals. Power disruptions not only cause physical discomfort but also fuel anxiety and fear among those already dealing with health issues. These experiences can erode trust in the institution’s ability to offer reliable care, which eventually discourages patients from visiting that hospital in the future.

4. Economic Losses and Legal Risks

Hospitals also suffer from financial losses if they are unable to serve their patients due to power outages. When the grid goes down, sensitive equipment may suffer irreversible damage, increasing the repair and replacement costs of the hospitals. On the other hand, power outages may necessitate the suspension of all non-emergency medical services, leading to revenue declines. Furthermore, patients may choose other medical institutions due to distrust in the hospital, further exacerbating business losses. If power outages result in patient injury or death, hospitals may face legal proceedings from patients' families.

Additionally, hospitals usually need to meet stringent government standards for safety, and these standards can easily be compromised if hospitals do not have access to uninterrupted electricity.

Existing Measures to Address Power Outages and Their Limitations

In the face of sudden power outages, hospitals have adopted a series of response measures; however, each measure has its own limitations.

1. Diesel Generators

Diesel generators remain a widely used solution for emergency power in hospitals. Their ability to provide large-scale energy during outages has made them a mainstay in the healthcare sector. However, they are far from perfect. They generate disruptive noise, which affects patients' rest and recovery and may also interfere with the regular communication and work of medical staff. Furthermore, these generators also emit a lot of pollutants since they run on fossil fuels. Similarly, they constantly need refueling, which becomes a massive burden on hospitals over time.

2. Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS)

Many hospitals also use Uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) for emergency power needs. While they are highly effective for short-term use, they fall short in extended outages. The energy storage capacity of UPS systems is inherently limited, and they are not designed to sustain power for prolonged periods. Although high-end UPS systems can be equipped with large-capacity battery packs to extend power supply duration, this also increases equipment costs and footprint.

ATESS Advanced Energy Storage Systems

Given these considerations, advanced energy storage systems stand as the optimal backup electricity solution for hospitals. ATESS offers highly reliable advanced solar & energy solutions boasting the following benefits:

1. Reliable Power Supply for Medical Equipment

ATESS advanced energy storage systems are engineered to deliver consistent and reliable power, ensuring that all vital medical devices remain fully operational during power outages. Equipped with swift switchover capabilities, ranging from 0 to 10 milliseconds, these systems effectively kick into action immediately upon detecting a power disruption, thereby maintaining the functionality of essential medical appliances without delay.

2. Reduce Dependence on Traditional Power Sources

ATESS advanced energy storage systems empower hospitals to fully leverage the potential of solar energy, facilitating a definitive shift away from traditional power sources. Their extensive range of eco-friendly and clean energy products, including batteries, battery inverters, hybrid inverters, rectifiers, bypass cabinets, and solar charge controllers, facilitates a seamless transition from traditional energy sources to a stable and sustainable energy supply. These solar power energy storage systems reduce energy costs, cut down carbon emissions, and enhance the hospital's green image and service quality.

Case Sharing

ATESS has helped a number of hospitals in adopting advanced energy storage systems. For instance, the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial (RFM) Hospital in Eswatini realized the potential of these systems and partnered with ATESS to achieve grid independence. By integrating a hybrid power station with a 1 MW solar PV array, a 1 MWh ATESS battery storage system, and PCS500 inverters, the hospital has ensured uninterrupted power for critical medical equipment and services. This transition has reduced the hospital’s energy costs by 80%, freeing up resources to improve patient care and acquire advanced medical tools. Furthermore, the hospital’s switch from coal-powered systems to renewable energy has cut its carbon emissions by approximately 536 tonnes annually.

Conclusion

An uninterruptible power supply for hospitals is crucial. Power outages pose a serious threat to patient's health and lives and simultaneously cause significant economic losses and legal risks for hospitals. Although traditional backup power sources, such as diesel generators and uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), can address power issues to some extent, they all have obvious limitations, such as noise pollution, environmental pollution, high energy costs, and limited power supply duration.

The ATESS advanced energy storage systems offer a more reliable, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective solution for power security in hospitals.

Please reach out to us promptly, as our expert team stands ready to offer comprehensive technical consultations and tailored solutions, ensuring your hospital progresses towards a stabler, more eco-friendly, and efficient future.