Solar Power Project Provides Energy for Ameriyah Clinic
Tuesday, 02 December 2008 By Sgt. Brian Tierce
2nd Brigade Combat Time, 1st Infantry Division
BAGHDAD — The citizens of the Ameriyah district of northwest Baghdad have found a way to not only provide power for themselves but to also provide power where it matters most.
The Ameriyah Clinic was fitted with solar power panels Nov. 25 with the hopes of becoming energy independent from the Baghdad power grid – and the use of solar power is perhaps the most appropriate approach to achieving energy independence in this area of predominant sunlight.
“In Baghdad we have, on average, 10 hours of sunlight on a daily basis,” said Mahdi Johnny, electrical engineer advisor for the solar panel installation project. “What we are getting out of these rechargeable batteries is about 72 hours of power for every 10 hours of sun.”
Johnny went on to add that providing much-needed power to the clinic will not only give the staff the ability to conduct patient care on a non-stop basis, but it will also provides the clinic the ability to store its medications and various other medical supplies, which require refrigeration to remain stable.
Providing solar power in Baghdad is not a new concept. Solar lights have been installed in other sections of Baghdad to reduce the freedom of movement of extremists. The unique aspect of this solar project is that the Iraqis took the lead right from the beginning.
“Coalition involvement in this project was actually very minimal,” said Capt. Michael Nau, Joint Projects Management Office, 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, who is a native of San Diego. “This is an Iraqi-planned, Iraqi-led operation from start to finish.”
For the citizens of Ameriyah and the surrounding area, the electricity to the clinic will not only allow a place to receive care, it also alleviates the need to go in search of care.
“By providing the electricity right here, the patients in the clinic can stay here rather than having to be transferred somewhere else,” added Johnny, who also added that the clinic hoped to power up the panels within the next 20 days.
For the MND-B Soldiers who worked as oversight on the project, seeing the Iraqis plan and execute the task of harnessing the sun’s energy made all the sense in the world.
“One thing this country has a lot of is solar power,” said Nau. “The sun is abundant out here – it only makes sense to use it.”