Empowering Mobile Healthcare with
Clean, Reliable Energy
Objective
In the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, a nonprofit known then as Hospitals of Hope faced an urgent question: how do you deliver healthcare when the traditional infrastructure is gone? Their answer was both bold and practical - convert shipping containers into mobile medical units. Thus, Clinic in a Can was born. The mission was simple but ambitious: bring high-quality healthcare to underserved and disaster-struck regions around the world, using rugged, mobile clinics that could go wherever they were needed most.
These container-based clinics were initially powered by diesel generators, which posed significant challenges. Fuel costs were high, sourcing diesel in crisis zones was logistically difficult, and the engines were only rated for around 200 hours of runtime. For a team focused on efficiency and global outreach, these limitations quickly became barriers to scale.
The Turn Toward Solar
The turning point came at the RE+ Expo in 2022, where Clinic in a Can connected with Sol-Ark. They were seeking a solution that could replace noisy, maintenance-heavy generators with a clean, reliable energy system. More importantly, they needed something that could operate within the compact footprint of a shipping container and adapt to varying international electrical standards. Sol-Ark offered just that.
Sol-Ark's all-in-one inverter systems, specifically the 12K and 15K models, provided a powerful yet space-efficient solution. Their transformerless design was a new experience for the Clinic in a Can team, but quickly proved essential. The inverters delivered two to three times more power than the clinics typically required, offering a generous margin for medical equipment, lighting, refrigeration, and climate control.
The compact, IP65-rated units fit neatly into the containers without compromising interior space for medical use. Sol-Ark’s intuitive touchscreen interface made the systems approachable for clinicians who weren’t solar technicians, and its durability meant fewer field service calls, especially critical for clinics stationed in remote or disaster-prone areas.
Challenges They Faced
Difficulties They Encountered
- Annual diesel cost: ~$56,000 per clinic
- Generator lifespan: ~200 operational hours
- Logistical issues sourcing fuel in disaster zones
- Limited internal space inside containers
- Need for systems adaptable to global voltage/frequency standards
System Components
- Inverter Models: Sol-Ark 12K and 15K
- Inverter Quantity: One per mobile clinic
Designs were finalized within months of the RE+ event. Deployment followed shortly after, with the clinics quickly proving the real-world advantages of the Sol-Ark systems.
Implementation & Integration
The implementation wasn’t without its challenges. Transitioning from fossil fuel to solar required a learning curve, particularly with solar integration. But Sol-Ark’s technical support team stood beside them every step of the way, offering guidance and troubleshooting throughout the design and installation phases.
Designs were finalized within months of the RE+ event. Deployment followed shortly after, with the clinics quickly proving the real-world advantages of the Sol-Ark systems.
Outcome
The results were significant. Where a single clinic used to spend $56,000 annually on diesel fuel -over $222,000 in five years – that cost dropped to just $42,000 total with solar a substantial $180,000 in savings. Uptime improved dramatically, noise pollution vanished, and the mobile units became easier to deploy and maintain.
The systems proved reliable in varied environments, providing much-needed resilience for healthcare professionals working in the toughest conditions.
“The ‘aha moment’ came when we realized how simple the Sol-Ark systems were to install and operate. It just worked – no complex configurations, no extra equipment. That kind of simplicity is critical in the field.”
Performance Snapshot
Metric | Before (Diesel) | After (Sol-Ark) |
Energy Source | Diesel Generator | Solar + Battery |
Annual Fuel Cost | ~$56,000 | None |
Power Reliability | Medium (200 hrs/gen) | High (Solar + Storage) |
Deployment Time | Slower | Faster |
Noise & Emissions | High | Minimal |
Global Flexibility
Clinic in a Can operates in countries with vastly different electrical standards. Sol-Ark’s inverter flexibility allowed them to tailor each deployment without needing unique equipment for every region.
Remote Monitoring & Support
Clinic in a Can continues to rely on Sol-Ark’s remote monitoring tools and support team to ensure their systems perform consistently. The intuitive interface and cloud-based visibility make field support easier and more efficient.
The Road Ahead
Today, the partnership continues to grow. Clinic in a Can is now deploying new solar-powered mobile clinics across the globe, each built with the same reliability and mission-focused design.
Reliable power saves lives. And with Sol-Ark, Clinic in a Can has found a partner capable of powering their mission forward.
