Abstract
Recently, the escalating trend of load shedding has emerged as a major crisis in South Africa, disrupting the daily lives and economic activities of its citizens through persistent power outages. The frequent blackouts pose a significant challenge in public hospitals, impacting various stakeholders and making it difficult for these institutions to provide timely services to the community.
This study addresses the issue by conducting a life cycle cost analysis to assess and compare the efficacy of two electricity backup options, namely photovoltaic (PV) Solar and diesel generators, specifically in public hospitals for a period of 20 years. Employing a case study approach, crucial data was gathered from Mmametlhake hospital, one of the largest healthcare facilities in Mpumalanga province, South Africa.
The research involved an analysis of load shedding trends, considering satellite data to evaluate PV Solar performance. The simulation of PV Solar and diesel generator configurations, cost estimation, and emission comparisons were conducted using Homer Pro software. The findings indicate that the PV Solar system outperforms the diesel generator, offering an eco-friendly solution with a significantly lower life cycle cost, approximately two times less than that of the diesel generator.