Iraq's solar clinics a small beacon of shining success during the darkest time

Medical clinics in Baghdad have traditionally been run by air polluting diesel generators and most have only been operational for a few hours a day.

The disruption in basic services, such as children’s vaccination programs, have been the normal occurrence; due to the inability to maintain vaccines at an optimum temperature.

A new program started four months ago, and underwritten by the US military, with oversight by Iraq’s Health Ministry—began installing solar panels on local clinics.

The Al-Dakhil Medical Center in Baghdad had 64 solar panels installed on the roof. The excitement generated by the solar program could have been compared to the equivalent of receiving funds to allow 24-7 operation of the clinic. Precisely, what the addition of 64 solar panels accomplished.

According to Dr. Thamer Al-Musawi, since the installation of the solar panels, patients have been boyed by the enhancement. Not just due to the medical advantages, but the technological boost has transformed the clinic out of the dark ages.

It means we can give our patients the care and medical treatment they need," said Dr. Thamer, "and we can do it 24 hours a day."

Such a basic thing, but for a country without a reliable energy grid and frequent power losses, solar panels have become something of a symbol of hope and progress.

There are only three clinics in all of Iraq that have solar panels and they haven’t always been functioning totally free of problems. Evidently, there have been incidences where battery panels have been messed with, causing delays for repairs. But it has not dimmed the optimism.

Conversely, in the United States, as more solar panels and solar reserve farms are planned, there have been some patches of resisence by local communities and critics, who don’t like the way the panels look or oppose the land use over other special interest concerns.

But for the most part, as solar panels have become more affordable, the world as a whole, is starting to embrace the idea of solar panels and specifically, solar farm reserves that can sell the power generated to back to the local power grid.

More solar farm reserves are being built or are in the planning stages around the globe than at any other time in history. From Amareleja, Portugal, to Frankfurt, Germany, the power of solar is quickly being recognized as a leading contender in the rush to find renewable and sustainable sources of energy.

According to Reuters, June 16, 2009, Frankfurt: a consortium of 20 plus companies, including Munich Re, Seimens, RWE and Deutsche Bank, plan to build a massive $553 billion solar farm in Africa. Few details were available except the energy captured by such a mega-reserve could provide power to all the homes in Germany and many more across Europe.

Photovoltaic solar systems have been used to power everything from small calculators and wristwatches to street signs, electric equipment, and gigantic orbiting space satelites.

The success of a hand full of solar powered medical clinics in Iraq and the genuine excitement and appreciation conveyed by those doctors and patients—should be of consideration for the complacent attitudes of many countries and global governments that have been resistant to change.

Greening the globe one energy grid at a time.

***Copyright DelilahStarling 2009