Lady Pohamba Private Hospital installs Namibia's largest pumped solar water heating system

Submitted by Helvi Ileka
Published 1 year, 5 months ago

The Lady Pohamba Private Hospital Private Hospital in Windhoek recently commissioned 278.2 m2 of a planned total of 358.68 m2 collector area of solar water heating, with the remaining 80.2 m2 targeted for commissioning by August 2022. When complete, the entire 251.04 kWth system with 39 800 litre storage tank capacity will make it one of the largest solar heating systems operational in Namibia.

Helvi Ileka, Joseph Shigwedha and Fenni Shidhikaat the newly installed Lady Pohamba solar water heating systems

The solar thermal system is being installed in three phases with the aim to supply the hospital's thermal heat demand directly with solar thermal using heat pumps as a backup. The new Lady Pohamba system comprises of:

A system on the North Block of the hospital, consisting of 210 m2 collector area (equivalent to 147 kWth), and a hot water storage tank capacity of 15 000 litres. The system supplies the following areas of the hospital with hot water on a daily basis without interruption and is largest pumped solar water heating system in the country to date: 

  • 20-bed paediatric ward
  • 7-bed paediatric ICU
  • 18-bed day ward
  • 60-bed medical ward and
  • 10-bed step down/rehab ward

Sixteen thermosiphon systems, with a total collector area of 68.2 m2 (equivalent to 47.7 kWth) and a hot water storage capacity of 4 800 litres, were installed in February 2022 on the cardiac wing to supply hot water to the following areas: 

  • 11-bed ICU,
  • 33-bed cardiac/neuro ward
  • 10-bed maternity ward extension, radiology and pathology

The existing 20 000 litre hot water storage tank system is heated using conventional electricity and this is to be fully converted to solar thermal system, requiring a collector area of 80.48 m2 (equivalent to 56.34 kWth).

The new solar hot water system will supply hot water to the following areas:

  • 15-bed trauma unit
  • 7 operating theatres
  • 2 surgical wards (which include 41 beds)
  • 7-bed isolation unit
  • 10-bed multi-intensive care unit
  • 11-bed cardiac vascular intensive care unit
  • 34-bed medical ward
  • 11-bed paediatric ward
  • 10-bed neonatal intensive care unit and
  • 12-bed maternity ward

It will also provide hot water to supportive services such as a hospital pharmacy, radiology department and pathology department.

The systems were designed and installed by a local company, Solsquare Energy (Pty) Ltd, with partial funding from SOLTRAIN. 

The quality inspection for the systems at the cardiac wing and north block was completed on 23 February 2022 and 01 April 2022 respectively by a team comprising local SOLTRAIN project representatives from the Namibia Energy Institute (NEI) and Namibia University of Science and Technology and Solsquare will start work on upgrading the remaining conventional system in August 2022.

It is envisaged that the installation of these three systems will encourage other hospitals to take up solar thermal systems for heating and cooling, to reap the SOLTRAIN co-financing benefits and achieve their visions on becoming carbon neutral. It is also noteworthy that a rooftop solar PV system has also been installed at the hospital.

SOLTRAIN+ exhibits at at the Zimbabwe Agricultural Show 2023

SOLTRAIN+ exhibits at at the Zimbabwe Agricultural Show 2023

The annual Zimbabwe Agricultural Show is the premier event organized by the Zimbabwe Agricultural Society for the na…

1 month, 2 weeks ago

Hilton Chingosho & Samson Mhlanga

Girls in STEM Career Guidance at Masotsha High School, Bulawayo

Girls in STEM Career Guidance at Masotsha High School, Bulawayo

The GIRLS IN STEM career guidance event was organized by Elevate Trust Zimbabwe, with a specific focus on empowering…

1 month, 2 weeks ago

Samson Mhlanga, Destine Mashava and Albert Mnkandla

NEI Exhibits the SOLTRAIN+ Project at the Ongwediva Annual Trade Fair and at the NUST Post-Graduate Open Day

NEI Exhibits the SOLTRAIN+ Project at the Ongwediva Annual Trade Fair and at the NUST Post-Graduate Open Day

The Namibia Energy Institute (NEI) showcased its activities, including the Southern African Renewable Heating and Co…

1 month, 2 weeks ago

Joseph Shigwedha

Secure Your Spot - Pre-Register for the 7th SOLTRAIN Conference!

Secure Your Spot - Pre-Register for the 7th SOLTRAIN Conference!

We're thrilled to announce that pre-registration is now open for the upcoming 7th SOLTRAIN Conference! Don't…

1 month, 2 weeks ago

Wolfgang w.gruber-glatzl@aee.at

SOLTRAIN+ Gender & Diversity Management - Side Event alongside the SOLTRAIN+ Conference taking place 22 – 23 November 2023, Safari Hotel, Windhoek, Namibia

SOLTRAIN+ Gender & Diversity Management - Side Event alongside the SOLTRAIN+ Conference taking place 22 – 23 November 2023, Safari Hotel, Windhoek, Namibia

During the SOLTRAIN+ project, special attention is given to 'Women in Energy.' Aligned with national sustain…

1 month, 2 weeks ago

Karen Gibson, Selma Festus, Monika Spörk-Dür

Four more years of SOLTRAIN with expanded scope of SOLTRAIN+

Four more years of SOLTRAIN with expanded scope of SOLTRAIN+

The SOLTRAIN+ project, which began in January 2023, promises four more years of exciting new developments in the fie…

4 months, 3 weeks ago

Wolfgang Gruber-Glatzl

SOLTRAIN+ is starting training activities at NUST in Namibia

SOLTRAIN+ is starting training activities at NUST in Namibia

The Namibian University of Science and Technology (NUST) hosted two workshops from the 15th to the 20th of May 2023.…

4 months, 3 weeks ago

Rudi Moschik

SOLTRAIN+ promoting solar thermal potential for energy efficiency in Zimbabwe and the region

SOLTRAIN+ promoting solar thermal potential for energy efficiency in Zimbabwe and the region

The SOLTRAIN+ project aims to promote energy efficiency through the utilization of solar thermal potential in variou…

4 months, 3 weeks ago

Eng Samson Mhlanga, Blessed Sarema, Albert Mnkandla and Gilbert Munhuwamambo

Announcing "SOLTRAIN+"

Announcing "SOLTRAIN+"

The SOLTRAIN program has been successfully built up in the last 12 years leading to positive impact across the solar…

10 months, 3 weeks ago

SOLTRAIN Admin

SOLTRAIN Phase IV successfully completed

SOLTRAIN Phase IV successfully completed

The fourth phase of the SOLTRAIN project came to a close at the SOLTRAIN conference which took place on December 7th…

10 months, 3 weeks ago

Werner Weiss