Modern healthcare facilities depend upon reliable energy. During natural disasters and power outages, keeping a healthcare facility powered is mission critical.
In September 2024, hospitals in the Southeastern United States experienced blackouts, wind damage, and flooding due to Hurricane Helene. While most hospitals were able to use generators or backup systems to maintain operations, the situation highlighted the vulnerability of healthcare facilities to power outages. The aftermath of the hurricane saw healthcare workers struggling to locate staff and patients, and some facilities were forced to halt elective procedures.
In August 2023, White Memorial Hospital in Los Angeles experienced a blackout during a tropical storm. The hospital had to evacuate more than 200 patients from a building housing neonatal intensive care and OB-GYN units due to the loss of power.
And closer to home, Woodhull Hospital in Brooklyn, New York, experienced a power outage in September 2023 due to torrential rain. The hospital had to evacuate over 150 patients, including those in the ICU, as backup power systems failed. Reports emerged of patients screaming in distress during the chaotic evacuation, highlighting the urgent need for reliable energy resiliency measures in healthcare facilities.
The “California Microgrids for Healthcare Facilities” study released in 2021 by the California Energy Commission provides valuable insights into addressing the challenges of energy resiliency in healthcare. The study evaluates microgrids – power generation/storage, switching, and control systems – that enable facilities to continue to function during blackouts. A properly designed microgrid allows a facility to “island” – power itself independently – when the grid goes down by using on-site energy generation sources like solar panels, wind turbines, and natural gas generators. The microgrid disconnects from the main grid, allowing the facility to operate independently and maintain essential services until the grid is restored.
The “California Microgrids for Healthcare Facilities” study evaluates microgrids powered by various energy sources – diesel, natural gas, solar, wind, and battery – to see which combinations can best provide at least 96 hours of backup power during prolonged power outages.
The study finds that while renewable energy sources can play a role in backup and resilience, 100% renewable backup solutions are not feasible due to the intermittent nature of solar and wind power, along with the cost and facility footprint required to meet the 96 hour threshold. The study concluded that microgrids combining renewable sources with a generator fueled by piped natural gas provided the best balance of emissions and reliability for hospitals in California.
When the energy grid goes down, healthcare facilities must keep running. Energy resilience in healthcare facilities is essential for maintaining the continuity of care and protecting the health and safety of patients. And with more frequent and more powerful storms expected due to climate change, hospitals must re-evaluate and re-invest in backup power systems. By implementing energy resiliency measures, healthcare facilities can better prepare for and respond to emergencies, ultimately improving patient outcomes and community health. The recent examples of Hurricane Helene and the blackout at White Memorial Hospital highlight the importance of reliable backup power systems. The “California Microgrids for Healthcare Facilities” study provides valuable insights into the feasibility of microgrids with piped natural gas as a solution for energy resiliency in healthcare. By investing in energy resiliency measures, healthcare facilities can better prepare for this new normal.
Sources:
HHS Shares Health Sector Climate Resilience and Emissions Reduction Announcements at COP29, https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2024/11/18/hhs-shares-health-sector-climate-resilience-and-emissions-reduction.html
Electricity in health-care facilities – World Health Organization (WHO), https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/electricity-in-health-care-facilities
Building climate resilient health services with sustainable energy, https://www.who.int/news/item/07-10-2022-building-climate-resilient-health-services-with-sustainable-energy
Healthcare Facilities and Power Outages – FEMA.gov, https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-07/healthcare-facilities-and-power-outages.pdf
Hospitals mostly rebound after Helene knocked out power | AP News, https://apnews.com/article/helene-asheville-hospitals-southeast-recovery-3076ac4366152f19a84a004f4ccf7e9e
What Happens If a Hospital Loses Power During a Disaster? – GovTech, https://www.govtech.com/em/what-happens-if-a-hospital-loses-power-during-a-disaster
New York City Hospital Evacuated as Rainstorm Causes Power Outage | Local News, https://www.localnews.com/nyc-hospital-evacuated-rainstorm-power-outage?form=MG0AV3
Microgrids for Healthcare Facilities – HCAI – Department of Health Care, https://hcai.ca.gov/document/hbsb-microgrid-for-healthcare-facilities-white-paper/Lessons Learned from Energy Commission Microgrid Projects, https://www.energy.ca.gov/sites/default/files/2024-06/CEC-500-2024-067.pdf
