GALLERY: Fuel-cell technology comes to Windsor East Clinic

The Windsor East Clinic has received a hydrogen fuel-cell solution pilot project, which will help keep its lights on during load shedding and cable theft. The Department of Science and Technology and the City of Johannesburg partnered with Clean Energy Investments and Air Products to produce this one-of-a-kind powering up solution.

Dr Refik Bismilla, who is an executive director of health with the City, spoke at the launch held at the Windsor East Clinic on 3 September. He said that gone were the days when the nurses would have to put vaccines and other medication that required refrigeration into cooler boxes and ferry them to other clinics as a cost cutting measure.

“We need to ensure that we keep our clinics open during load shedding, and also ensure that there is a contingency plan to ensure that things at our clinics run as smoothly as they can during load shedding,” he said.

Dr Bismilla pointed out that this technology was efficient because it had a life span of 10–20 years. The 5KW hydrogen fuel-cell solution implemented at the Windsor East Clinic has a running capacity of 70 plus hours and recharges itself, at a cost of R200 000 per unit.

He added that the hydrogen fuel-cell solution restarts itself every two weeks to check itself for any problems, which if detected, the machine then reports to Clean Energy Investments via a computer.

Dr Bismilla pointed out that the hydrogen fuel-cell solution has added benefits unlike the standard diesel generator as there were no parts that would appeal to thieves. “There is no diesel, batteries or cables that appeals to thieves and in this regard science, technology and innovation is making a difference,” he said.

Intern engineer, Hetisani Dlamini from Clean Air Solutions, explained that electricity was created when electrons were extracted from the hydrogen, and bonded with oxygen.

Mayoral Committee Member for Health and Social Development for the City, Nonceba Molwele pointed out that this initiative would assist the clinic to continue with the provision of comprehensive primary healthcare services as promised by the government.

According to Nkosinathi Nkabinde, communications officer with the City, this was the first installation of a hydrogen fuel-cell solution at a clinic in South Africa, Air Products focused on the hydrogen distribution feasibility assessment and the safety of the hydrogen storage installations to ensure that they were compliant with international codes and standards.

“The installation of the hydrogen fuel-cell standby power solutions was completed in April and had already generated 71 hours of reliable backup power,” he said.