Why Hospitals Need Hybrid Inverters and Backup Energy Storage

Lights out in the hospital shouldn’t just mean flicking on the backup generators. Running a medical facility requires tight margins of power quality and availability. The consequences of losing electric power in the health industry can result in the worst outcomes imaginable. 

Hospitals require clean, reliable power 24/7 or they risk lives. Backup generators have been the failsafe for institutions for decades, but as grid instability increases and fuel prices skyrocket, diesel generators just don’t cut it anymore. Hospital administrators looking to take their facility’s resilience to the next level should consider upgrading to a seamless energy storage system.

Effects of Power Loss On Hospitals 

If the lights go out in a hospital, everything stops. Offices, ICUs, lunch rooms, research labs, servers and lights require electricity to function. There isn’t anything inside the hospital walls that isn’t susceptible to digital shutdown.

Hospital Functions and Devices 

When lives are on the line, every millisecond of power matters. Operating rooms, pharmacies, and life support equipment all depend on a clean electrical sine wave to function. If there’s a dip in power (commonly known as a “brownout”) many medical devices will shut down to prevent damaging patients. And beyond life-support — what about MRI scanners or other sensitive electronic medical devices? An emergency power outage can fry millions of dollars of equipment that may take weeks to replace or repair. Temperature-controlled pharmacies and research laboratories can’t afford downtime either. Hospitals need energy storage. 

Patients

At the end of the day, hospitals treat humans, and patients want to feel safe when they lay down for surgery. The bright side of ensuring all systems have enough power is that patients won’t realize when the grid goes down. By adding an energy storage system, hospitals can laugh in the face of a Texas winter (or summer) demand response event.

Lawsuit 

Did you know hospitals can lose their accreditation if they don’t provide proper emergency power? It’s not just about avoiding a shutdown — the CMS and JC have very specific requirements when it comes to your standing reserve. If a preventable incident causes patient harm, you can bet they’re going to see you in court. Adding a hybrid inverter provides documented “extra” precaution.

Why Hospitals Should Invest In Backup Energy 

Decades ago, when the “backup plan” consisted of an ATS and a diesel generator, anything beyond that was just a fancy UPS. Now, healthcare facilities have the option of pairing their generators with a powerful battery backup. Not only does it provide zero milliseconds of transfer time, it’s a financial hedge against high and rising Texas peak utility rates.

Cost

Money can’t buy life, but it does buy peace of mind. Healthcare CFO’s should understand the benefits of peak shaving –- discharging a battery during the most expensive hours of the day. For a hospital in Dallas, installing a high-capacity battery storage system pays for itself in savings.

Healthcare Operations 

ESS acts as a bridge during long power outages. Batteries can provide instantaneous energy while the generators are starting up. In essence, you can keep EMRs, smartphones and surgical robots online while the legacy diesel warms up.

Understanding the Hybrid Inverter 

An inverter is essentially the brain of your new power plant. Inverters without solar input are typically designed to run with the grid or your batteries. Hybrid inverters can manage both the grid and batteries while also accepting DC power from solar panels.

Simply explained, the hybrid inverter is what dictates how power flows into and through your facility.

It allows the hospital to “island” or disconnect from the main grid completely. In the event of a catastrophic power outage, the hybrid inverter will automatically prevent backfeeding onto the utility lines while powering the facility with solar+battery power.

Furthermore, the power running into critical care wings are conditioned by the hybrid inverter. Prevent “dirty” power from riding-clean” power from riding your UPS units and damaging sensitive biomedical equipment.

Quick Guides | Choosing the Right System 

facility managers should look for the following key components when inspecting an ESS from a manufacturer.

1. Round-Trip Efficiency. How much power is lost during the AC->DC->AC cycle?

2. Galvanic Isolation. Is there a physical separation between your batteries and the grid?

3. Expandability. Can your hybrid inverter communicate with additional battery packs down the road?

Moving Forward With Microgrid Technology

Here are the steps you should take when moving to a more reliable power system.

1. Catalog your critical circuits. Know the difference between Critical Loads vs. Essential Loads. This will allow you to properly size your hybrid inverter.

2. Size your inverter. With proper loadlist in hand, make sure the inverter you choose can handle your peak kWh demand. Additionally, double check that your manufacturer follows all Dallas TX building codes and NEC 706 standards.

3. Manage change. Bring in your BIOS and ensure proper communications between the ESS and your BMS.

4. Test, test, test. Hospitals should conduct monthly “black start” drills to ensure a smooth transition from utility to battery power and vice versa.

Let SolarBridge Help With Your Energy Storage Solution

At SolarBridge Technology, we specialize in keeping American hospitals powered. Our Texas-made hybrid inverters are designed in Dallas and made in the USA. With sub-20 millisecond switchover speeds our high-performance inverters are perfect for medical applications.

Our mission as an energy storage systems manufacturer is to help keep American hospitals up and running while the grid fails around them. If you’re concerned about foreign supply chain failures, look at UPS and security certificates before making your decision. Reach out today and see how we can keep your lights on, your equipment running and your patients safer and happier.