Solar energy ensures reliable power to India’s rural health clinics during Covid
Husk Power is the largest community minigrid developer in India, operating 100+ sites in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh states. Pre-pandemic, it was already providing power to many health clinics, but it stepped up to make a bigger impact during Covid-19.
Even before Covid-19 hit, Husk Power had electrified about 100 primary health centers (PHCs) in the northern states, two of the poorest in India with traditionally the most unreliable electricity. Husk’s arrival allowed the clinics to function without fear of power outages.
And when the most recent coronavirus wave ripped through India in the spring of 2021, Husk decided to redouble its efforts to ensure that health clinics, medical shops, nursing homes and pathology labs were able to continue their work without interruption.
As a start, Husk Power decided to proactively offer hospitals and clinics double the power supply at no additional cost (based on existing tariffs), with an additional 25% discount. It also distributed N-95 masks to more than 4,000 people so far who couldn’t afford them, including vegetable vendors, rickshaw and trolley pullers, and ragpickers. But the provision of reliable and quality power to health clinics was what had the biggest impact.
For example, in May, a Covid Center in Bihar’s Kesariya town approached Husk Power because the state-owned grid had failed, and the hospital needed an alternative energy source. Within three hours, Husk had connected the center to 24x7 power using a rooftop solar system.
Similarly, a nursing home that also performs surgery in Kotwa called Husk after power from the state grid went out during a surgical procedure. Responding rapidly, it took only 12 minutes for Husk to turn on power so that the surgery could go on smoothly.
Frontline health workers and doctors expressed gratitude for Husk’s focus on service reliability, something that customer surveys have repeatedly shown state utilities struggle to deliver in states like Bihar, Jharkhand and UP.
“We are satisfied with the convenience offered by Husk Power during this pandemic situation,” said Dr. Surendra Chaurasia at the Jyoti Maa Hospital. “We did not have any trouble in the hospital and the lights stayed on with the support of Husk. No work came to halt.”
Husk field staff, deemed essential service providers, were able to brave the Covid lockdown and continue to respond to customer needs, while also overcoming other challenges including flooding.
“One call to Husk Power and they responded immediately,” said Dr. Ejaz Ahmad based in Paniyara, who ran out of elecricity at midnight while treating a patient, and quickly had power restored.
