- Title: WEST BANK: West Bank hospital powers ahead with solar panels
- Date: 9th June 2014
- Summary: HEBRON, WEST BANK (JUNE 3, 2014) (REUTERS) SOLAR POWER PANELS ON ROOF OF AL-AHLI HOSPITAL SOLAR PANELS EUROPEAN UNION FLAG ON SOLAR PLANT VARIOUS OF SOLAR PANELS ON THE ROOF OF WEST BANK HOSPITAL SMALL SOLAR PANELS VARIOUS OF AL-AHLI HOSPITAL WIND ENERGY PROJECT MANAGER, MOHAMMED TAMIMI, CHECKING POWER DEVICES VARIOUS OF LIGHTS TURNING ON AL-AHLI HOSPITAL WIND ENERGY PROJECT MANAGER, MOHAMMED TAMIMI, IN OFFICE MODEL OF WIND TURBINE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) AL-AHLI HOSPITAL WIND ENERGY PROJECT MANAGER, MOHAMMED TAMIMI, SAYING: "We have now a section which we call electricity cells of 225 kilowatt, and the other section of the panels are solar power panels to boil water, which will generate a huge amount of heat to boil the water." PALESTINIAN AND EUROPEAN FLAGS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) AL-AHLI HOSPITAL WIND ENERGY PROJECT MANAGER, MOHAMMED TAMIMI, SAYING: "The main aim for the project is to save 30-40 percent of the electricity and other kinds of energy that they use in the hospital. The cost of the energy in the hospital is high, so if we save some of the energy expenses we will help the hospital to develop its medical performance." AHLI HOSPITAL/ SOLAR POWER PANELS VARIOUS OF SOLAR POWER PANELS VARIOUS OF DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC RELATIONS IN AL-AHLI HOSPITAL, BASSEM AL-NATSHEH, CHECKING THE SOLAR PANELS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) DIRECTOR OF THE PUBLIC RELATIONS IN AL-AHLI HOSPITAL, BASSEM AL-NATSHEH, SAYING: "The idea is to reach the 100 percent of generating power, it is a clean power and does not cause pollution. The hospital will one day reach a point of not getting power from other sides such as the Hebron Municipality." VARIOUS OF PIPES VARIOUS OF POWER DEVICE NATSHEH AND TAMIMI CHECKING THE PANELS SOLAR PANELS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) DIRECTOR OF THE PUBLIC RELATIONS IN AL-AHLI HOSPITAL, BASSEM AL-NATSHEH, SAYING: "We speak about a huge saving, all these amounts of money will be transferred to other important issues. We have shortage in medicine and medical equipment so we now can save the money that we spend on power for issues that can help to develop the hospital." CORRIDOR INSIDE HOSPITAL LIGHT VARIOUS OF PEOPLE INSIDE HOSPITAL BANNER SHOWING THE SOLAR ENERGY PROJECT IN HOSPITAL EXTERIOR OF HOSPITAL VARIOUS OF SOLAR PANELS ON ROOF OF CAR PARK AT HOSPITAL
- Embargoed: 24th June 2014 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: West bank
- City:
- Country: Palestinian Territories
- Topics: Health
- Reuters ID: LVA1GAHH32M0J64Y2FX48D7NOMDE
- Story Text: On its elegant, stark, and white rooftop, Hebron's Al-Ahli hospital turns to new forms of energy to save expenses. The territory's traditional power supplies may be depleted, but the year-round sunshine might provide a solution for the hospital's energy needs.
Al-Ahli Hospital Wind Energy Project Manager, Mohammed Tamimi, said power panels will supply electricity as well as 24-hour-hot water.
"We have now a section which we call electricity cells of 225 kilowatt, and the other section of the panels are solar power panels to boil water, which will generate a huge amount of heat to boil the water," said Tamimi.
The project, which is sponsored by the European Union, started in 2008 and finished in 2014, costing 1.6 million euros.
The money that's saved by the solar panels will go to other areas in the hospital, providing much needed funding to develop various departments.
"The main aim for the project is to save 30-40 percent of the electricity and other kinds of energy that they use in the hospital. The cost of the energy in the hospital is high, so if we save some of the energy expenses we will help the hospital to develop its medical performance," Tamimi added.
The Director of PR, Bassem Al-Natsheh at the hospital puts the annual amount that the solar panels can help to save at 1.1 million Israeli shekels (280 thousands dollars).
"The idea is to reach the 100 percent of generating power, it is a clean power and do not cause pollution. The hospital will one day reach a point of not getting power from other sides such as the Hebron Municipality," Al-Natsheh said.
"We speak about a huge saving, all these amounts of money will be transferred to other important issues. We have shortage in medicine and medical equipment so we now can save the money that we spend on power for issues that can help to develop the hospital," Al-Natsheh added.
Al-Ahli hospital is the first West Bank hospital to use a solar cell system which provides electricity 24-hours a day.
In Gaza, the Al-Nasir Paediatric Hospital has already installed a solar power system in its intensive care unit.
Palestinians who live in rural areas of the West Bank and in Gaza have long struggled with basic services like clean water supply, constant power and fuel. The hospital's switch to solar panels is a first step in ensuring patients won't suffer power shortages whilst in hospital.
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