Spatial analysis for an electrification strategy for healthcare facilities in Ghana

Abstract

The lack of access to reliable and clean electricity can be a major problem in sub-Saharan Africa, especially in rural areas. In Ghana, persistent and erratic power outages are still common nowadays, despite the country having an enormous potential for renewable energy which in fact remains underexploited. Unreliable access to electricity is especially concerning in the health sector, where even short electricity outages may mean the difference between life and death. It also reinforces existing problems and inequalities in accessing health services to the detriment of rural communities, since they are more likely to be affected by power outages than urban areas. Through geospatial analysis of population settlements, night light- and healthcare infrastructure, this study locates health facilities in Ghana that would be suitable for photovoltaic-based mini-grid electrification, as these could supply decentral energy to undersupplied locations. Moreover, with the help of energy demand and system modelling data, the most cost-effective and environmentally friendly mini-grid system setup for all vulnerable health sites is determined. The study acknowledges that knowledge transfer and the potential for implementation of such a project often remain hypothetical, even if they have the sustainable development of critical infrastructure and thus also the improvement in quality of life for often neglected segments of the population as major goals. Financial resources are often one of the greatest factor limiting execution, hindering a shift from the theoretical to the practical realm. In an effort to counteract this condition, a prioritisation strategy for the electrification of vulnerable health facilities is proposed within a multi-criteria decision making framework according to economic and spatial criteria. The aim is to help stakeholders and decision makers on the ground assigning resources for the subsequent planning and implementation of photovoltaic-based mini-grid systems for health facilities located in weak- and off-grid areas in Ghana. It is undeniable that improving access to reliable and sustainable electricity is intrinsically linked to improving access to quality health care, both of which are internationally pursued as part of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The possibility for their (partial) fulfilment at a local level within the Ghanaian context is explored in this study.