{"id":133427,"key":"Modular_open-source_solar_photovoltaic-powered_DC_nanogrids_for_ambulances","title":"Modular open-source solar photovoltaic-powered DC nanogrids for ambulances","latest":{"id":1274368,"timestamp":"2026-09-16T16:38:11Z"},"content_model":"wikitext","license":{"url":"https://www.appropedia.org/Appropedia:Copyrights","title":"CC-BY-SA-4.0"},"source":"{{Solar footer}}\n\n{{FAST notice}}\n\n[[File:Nanogrid for Ambulance.png|thumb|DC nanogrid]]\n\n{{Publication data\n| type = Paper\n| cite-as = Md Motakabbir Rahman, Sara Khan, Koami S. Hayibo, Joshua M. Pearce, Modular open-source solar photovoltaic-powered DC nanogrids for ambulances, ''Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments'', 83, 2025, 104648, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seta.2025.104648. [https://www.academia.edu/144607939/Modular_open_source_solar_photovoltaic_powered_DC_nanogrids_for_ambulances OA on Academia.edu], [https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=5007978 preprint]\n}}\n\n{{Project data\n| authors = Md Motakabbir Rahman, Sara Khan, Koami S. Hayibo, User:J.M.Pearce\n| status = Designed, Modelled\n| verified-by = FAST\n| years = 2025\n| uses = renewable energy\n| location = London, ON, Canada\n}}\n\nAmbulances are vital to pre-hospital emergency care, yet many in isolated communities lack a full complement of electric powered medical devices. An approach not fully developed in the literature is to provide power to medical equipment in isolated communities is to apply modular solar photovoltaic (PV)-powered direct current (DC) nanogrid systems to provide uninterrupted power supply for mini-mobile clinics or ambulances. This study aims to i) integrate this modular DC nanogrid into ambulances, ii) analyze the estimated loads and iii) optimize the sizes of PV modules and batteries using the physical constraints of the ambulance and simulations with the Solar Alone Multi-Objective Advisor (SAMA) for representative locations in the global north and south (London, Ontario, Canada and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia). The results of this study found the rooftop integrated solar-powered DC nanogrid can supply critical power for the instruments inside the ambulance or mini clinic throughout the day without requiring grid power even with the ambulance moving. In Addis Ababa, a DC nanogrid system with a single 175-Watt (W) PV module and a 2- kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery bank is sufficient to meet an ambulance’s annual energy demand while providing the necessary voltage levels (6 V, 12 V, and 24 V) for onboard medical devices. This alternative PV system offers higher efficiency and reliability, making the proposed solution both sustainable and economically viable for remote healthcare applications.\n\n{{Pearce publications notice}}\n\n== Highlights ==\n\nSolar-powered ambulances improve healthcare access in remote regions.\n\n* Modular nanogrid systems provide scalability and customization options.\n* Flexible PV panels can decrease total costs by 8.3%.\n* Addis Ababa’s 175 W PV with 2-kWh battery meets annual medical equipment demand.\n* Sensitivity analysis assesses PV loss due to shading from 10% to 100%.\n\n[[File:Graphical abstract-Nanogrid for Ambulance.png|500px]]\n\n== See also ==\n\n* [[Modular Open Source Solar Photovoltaic-Powered DC Nanogrids with Efficient Energy Management System]]\n* [[Open-source Hardware Design of Modular Solar DC Nanogrid]]\n* [[Open-Source Design of Solar-Powered Picnic Table for Outdoor Device Charging]]\n* [[Open-Source DC-DC Converter Enabling Direct Integration of Solar Photovoltaics with Anion Exchange Membrane Electrolyzer for Green Hydrogen Production]]\n* [[Open-Source DC-DC Converter Enabling Direct Integration of Solar Photovoltaics with Anion Exchange Membrane Electrolyzer for Green Hydrogen Production]]\n* [[Open Source Scientific Bottle Roller]]\n\n \n\n{{Page data\n| keywords = Distributed Generation, Energy Management System, DC Nanogrid, Photovoltaic, Solar energy, Open Source, open source hardware,ambulance, open hardware\n| sdg = SDG07 Affordable and clean energy, SDG08 Decent work and economic growth, SDG09 Industry innovation and infrastructure\n| authors = User:J.M.Pearce\n| organizations = FAST, Western\n}}\n\n[[Category:FAST Completed]]\n[[Category:Open source hardware]]\n[[Category:FAST methods]]\n[[Category:Distributed manufacturing]]\n[[Category:Open hardware]]\n[[Category:renewable energy]]\n[[Category:photovoltaics]]"}