BHI installed a 780-panel photovoltaic (PV) solar system to power the existing St. Boniface Hospital (SBH), enabling the team to better serve their patients by establishing a reliable source of clean energy that reduces fuel costs and minimizes the risk associated with diesel generators. SBH is located 10 miles from the nearest electrical grid, and as a result, access to a reliable energy source is integral to the Hospital’s ability to deliver sustainable and reliable health care. As SBH experiences record growth in patient numbers and its range of services expands, the investment in a PV system will improve the hospital's sustainability and efficacy.

Plans are underway to install additional solar panels on SBH’s newly constructed supply warehouse. This project marked a significant step forward in energy independence and will allow SBH to continue to serve the most vulnerable. As the Hospital grows, so does its energy consumption. The soon-to-be-opened Infection Disease Containment Unit (IDC) will be connected to the PV system, along with the Surgical Center, upon its completion later this fall. The increase in energy use at St. Boniface Hospital can be largely attributed to the significant number of operations performed in the Surgical Center, which has three full operating suites and sees roughly 270 patients each month. Both buildings will provide energy intensive services and will require a significant amount of power. The PV system alleviates some of the burden these services place on the hospital.