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Children's Hospital in Tijuana, Baja California launches solar system in parking facility

Posted on August 21, 2014

Children

NADB and BECC awarded US $240,000 in technical assistance for the construction of the hospital's photovoltaic plant.

On July 8, Baja California Governor Francisco Vega de Lamadrid, along with Geronimo Gutierrez, Managing Director of the North American Development Bank (NADB), Francisco Javier Orduño, Director of the Baja California State Energy Commission (CEEBC), and Dr. Gabriel Chong King, founder of Hospital Infantil de las Californias, presided over the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the 150-kilowatt photovoltaic plant that will supply electricity to the children's hospital, located in Tijuana, Baja California. 

NADB and the Border Environment Cooperation Commission (BECC) jointly provided the Government of Baja California with US $240,000 in grant funding through their technical assistance programs for the installation of 528 solar panels in the hospital parking facility. These solar panels are expected to generate around 277,500 kWh of electricity annually. The US $471,000 solar plant will cover 80% of the medical center's electricity needs, which represents an annual savings of about $400,000 pesos over the life of the project, estimated at 25 years. 

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Hospital Infantil de las Californias, Dr. Gabriel Chong King acknowledged the donation, emphasizing that "the most important thing is the message given to children who visit the facility, because now they know someone is working to preserve the health of our planet and therefore, their own health."

NADB obtained the donation of the solar panels from the manufacturer, Astronergy, as well as two 100-kW inverters from KACO New Energy, Inc., and the structures for mounting the panels from VERSOL. The company Sociedad de Ingenieros Eléctricos y Electrónicos, S.A. de Mexicali was responsible for building the solar plant.  

"In addition to NADB and BECC funding for this project, the collaboration of the State Energy Commission (CEE) and the various companies that donated their technology made it possible to provide this solar plant at no cost to the Children's Hospital," said Gutierrez. "This solar facility will result in significant energy savings that will ultimately benefit more children on both sides of the California-Baja California border," he said. 

In his remarks, the Director of the State Energy Commission said this project will reduce the generation of an amount of greenhouse gases equivalent to 125 tons of carbon dioxide.   

Baja California Governor Francisco Vega de Lamadrid said "This project at Hospital Infantil de las Californias is well worth watching closely for its impact on improving the environment and reducing operational costs; this is an example of environmental education and culture." 

"In addition to the positive environmental impact, the hospital will benefit financially from not having to allocate its own resources to this project, as it was funded by the North American Development Bank and the Border Environment Cooperation Commission. This will allow the hospital to channel more resources to its efforts to increase the number of children served per year," the Governor said. 

In closing, Gutierrez said in the 20 years since the creation of BECC and NADB, 25 projects have been completed in Baja California with a value of US $325 million in loans and grant funding." 

The event was also attended by the Consul General of the United States in Tijuana, Andrew S.E. Erickson, Mexican Representative and Energy Committee Member Nereida Fuentes, the Secretary of Environmental Protection, Carlos Graizbord, BECC representative Jessica Hernandez, and the President of Noark Electric (a subsidiary of Chint/Astronergy Group), Benjamin Nan, among other guests. 




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