COVID-19 increases use of microgrids in healthcare sector

There are still regulatory, awareness barriers to adopting systems


Reliability, resiliency and flexibility-related concerns at medical facilities are increasing interest in distributed energy systems, according to an article on the UtilityDive website.

For instance, as the country continues to deal with COVID-19 and California faces the likelihood of more wildfire-related power outages, Kaiser Permanente is looking to deploy more solar-plus-storage systems and fuel cells.

"I think the whole COVID-19 situation just really reinforced the nervousness that we all have about power reliability in general," Seth Baruch, director of energy and utilities at Kaiser Permanente, said in the article.

Microgrid prices are becoming more competitive, and the COVID-19 pandemic has forced hospitals to be flexible in where they route and treat patients. And while hospitals generally have back-up generators for their critical branches, a power outage could cause the rest of the building to go dark, the article said.

Read the article.

 



July 9, 2020


Topic Area: Energy and Power


Recent Posts

Wesley Rehabilitation Center Specializes in Patients from Design to Care

Barge knew that patients were at the core of the design process.


Casa Colina Center for Disorders of Consciousness Officially Opens

New program addresses critical need for patients with severe brain injuries.


Legionella Detected at Michigan Health Facility

Case follows a similar finding of Legionnaires’ disease in a former patient.


Crystal Spring Tower Opens at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital

The new cardiovascular institute improves access and care across the region.


Hospital Evacuation Highlights Importance of Emergency Preparedness

Berger Hospital was evacuated after smoke was discovered in the basement.


 
 


FREE Newsletter Signup Form

News & Updates | Webcast Alerts
Building Technologies | & More!

 
 
 


All fields are required. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.