Cestos City, Rivercess County – St. Francis Hospital in Cestos City has reached a historic milestone as it becomes home to the largest solar power system ever installed by the Rural and Renewable Energy Agency (RREA), positioning the hospital for uninterrupted, round-the-clock electricity and improved healthcare delivery.
The hospital has now been 100 percent solarized with a high-capacity System-8 Solar Photovoltaic (PV) plant and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), designed to power the entire medical facility, including staff accommodation and storage units, on a 24/7 basis. RREA confirmed that the system is capable of supporting all essential hospital services, from emergency rooms to laboratories and maternity wards.
According to RREA, the system comprises nine inverters of 5 kilowatts peak (kWp) each, delivering a total output of 45 kWp, along with ten battery units of 10 kilowatt-hours (kWh) each, providing a combined 100 kWh energy storage capacity. This configuration ensures that the hospital remains fully operational even during cloudy days or nighttime hours.
RREA’s technical team has already completed full installation and assessment of the system, confirming that it meets all operational and safety standards.
A visit by the Verity Rivercess Reporter verified that the infrastructure is in place, though it is yet to be officially switched on for full use.
The solarization of St. Francis Hospital is part of Liberia’s national drive to modernize public services through renewable energy.
The project is funded by the Government of Liberia through a loan from the International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank Group, under the first phase of the Liberia Electricity Sector Strengthening and Access Project (LESSAP), and is being implemented by RREA in collaboration with the Ministry of Health.
Nationwide, 88 public health facilities have now been fully solarized under the program, reflecting steady progress toward Liberia’s goal of achieving universal electricity access by 2030, especially in rural and underserved counties like Rivercess.
Earlier, Dr. Dyujay G. Karnga commended the Liberian Government and its development partners for selecting Rivercess County and St. Francis Hospital for the project, noting that reliable electricity will dramatically improve patient care, save lives, and strengthen the overall health system in the region.
