Microgrid Modular Design for Tribal Healthcare Facilities: Kayenta Health Center PV System Case Study

This paper describes an experimental process and detailed information related to a 100-KW photovoltaic (PV) system case study at the Kayenta Health Center, which is located in the Navajo Nation. Information about the solar irradiance on site, the PV system performance, the power quality at the facility, and observation of the related equipment is gathered. Experimental data validate the theoretical data available for the zone, the facility, the systems, and the equipment. Detailed study of an existing PV system at the Navajo Nation combined with modeling and simulation will lead to a good industrial pilot project from implementation and practical perspective of the microgrid in existing tribal health care facilities. A modified configuration of the existing power system is presented. The configuration provides guidance for the redesign of existing healthcare facilities around the microgrid concept. Since the Kayenta Health Center is representative of the average healthcare facility in the Navajo Nation, this guidance will be useful for the improvement of the power system of many tribal healthcare facilities. This in turn will improve the quality of the healthcare service and will benefit the living conditions of a significant tribal population.