Solar for 600-Bed Hospital Is Global Grant 2560712

 Solar and Battery Backup for Chernihiv Hospital No. 2

Rotary Global Grant #2567312

Project Managers 

Local Project Host: Rotary Club of Kyiv-Capital            International Fundraising Host: Rotary Club of Babcock Ranch, FL

Team includes Ukrainian solar industry leaders, a German NGO (BGK- verein.de), Canadian and US Rotary clubs, and former US Dept of Energy staffers and contractors.

Project Dates Start Date: Jul 1, 2025   Estimated End Date: Apr 1, 2026

Background:  

Due to the full-scale Russian invasion, continuing damage to the Ukraine power grid has been devastating for hospitals nationwide.

Annual Electricity use is 1,462 (MWh) at this 600-bed hospital. The two Rotary Clubs are leading an effort to install a 284 kW-DC PV

system with a 60 kW/300 kWh battery. Private investment is sought.  Approximate cost: USD$400,000. Simple payback period - 7.3 years.

Objectives:

• Support Ukraine government’s goal to transition to 25% renewable energy by 2030

• Give hospital the ability to operate as an “island” during power outages

• Provide reliable hospital care to city of 250,000 and area veterans.

Target Audience The hospital had 230,000 visitors in 2023. It is a regional hub for rehabilitation of wounded veterans. The ER sees 20,000 people/year.

WATCH: Wounded warrier rehab at Chernihiv Hospital No. 2 

Project Scope:

3rd Rotary Global Grant for this team. A solar installation is now underway at Chernihiv Maternity Hospital, thanks to USD$244,000 raised from a total of 14 Rotary Club partners in the U.S. and Canada. A Chernihiv solar installer was selected in a competitive bid using a USDOE-based Request for Proposals. Responses were scored by Ukrainian and U.S. solar experts.

Project Constraints:

The Rotary Club of Babcock Ranch must raise USD$220,000 in order to qualify for a $180,000 match from the Rotary Foundation. An additional $15,000 must be raised to supplement an existing solar workforce development project at the Lyceum of Railway Transport, as required by Rotary International. Our partner, the German NGO Blau-Gelbes Kreuz, has pledged 40,000 Euros.

Deliverables:

•  Rooftop engineering study

• Electrical room modifications

• Solar modules, battery, inverters, rack mounting system

• Job training program at Lyceum of Railway Transport

Explorations & Decisions

 It is imperative that this project be started before or after the harsh Ukrainian winter. This limits the installation “window.”

Project Timeline

Fundraising 12/31/25

Engineering Study 2/28/26

Request for Proposals 3/31/26

Bid award and construction commences 4/30/26

Installation and commissioning 5/31/26

NREL Analysis

U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) PreFeasibility Analysis was completed 10/2024

During 2023-2024, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) contributed a prefeasibility analysis to this project, funded by USAID. 

Read it here: https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy25osti/91296.pdf   Further information: pat.strong.rotaryclub@gmail.com