In a significant step toward renewable energy adoption, Mauritius inaugurated a solarising initiative at Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital on June 3, 2024. The ceremony was graced by Dr. the Hon. Kailesh Kumar Singh Jagutpal, Minister of Health and Wellness, and Hon. Georges Pierre Lesjongard, Minister of Energy and Public Utilities, alongside other dignitaries.
This initiative aligns with the ISA Cares Initiative, launched in October 2020, focusing on solarising primary healthcare centers in Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The project, supported by a grant and executed by the Ministry of Health and Wellness in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy and Public Utilities, the Central Electricity Board, and the Development Bank of Mauritius, aims to reduce energy costs and enhance healthcare services.
Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital, which currently consumes 141,846 units of electricity monthly, will significantly cut costs with the new solar PV panels. The hospital is set to produce 3,200 units of electricity per hour, allowing funds to be redirected towards improving healthcare services.
In 2021, Mauritius received a grant of $50,000 to install approximately 25 kilowatts of solar panels at the hospital. The successful installation of a 26.4 kW solar rooftop system has paved the way for similar projects across public buildings in Mauritius. The formal grant agreement was signed on October 31, 2023, marking a milestone in the collaboration between the Ministry of Health and Wellness and the International Solar Alliance (ISA).
Dr. Ajay Mathur, Director General of ISA, emphasized Mauritius’s commitment to renewable energy and the potential of innovative solutions like floating solar and agro-photovoltaics to create jobs and meet the country’s goal of generating 60% of its electricity from solar by 2030.
The Mauritian government aims to maximize the use of solar PV panels across all government institutions, aligning with the target of 60% renewable energy in the electricity mix by 2030. The success of rooftop solar technology is crucial for increasing solar energy penetration in Mauritius.
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