Concerned about Nigeria’s unreliable electricity, the CEO of Newdigit, Derick Nwasor, has urged hospitals and industries to start using Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cells and electrolyzers to generate their own power.
In a statement, Nwasor said it is heartbreaking that patients are dying in hospitals because of poor electricity, even though both public and private hospitals can explore other ways to generate power.
He explained how the PEM system works: it has three main parts — one that splits water into hydrogen and oxygen, a fuel cell that turns hydrogen into steady electricity, and solar panels that power the entire process using sunlight.
Nwasor said the system can provide hospitals with 12–15 kilowatts of clean, continuous power, 10–40 litres of medical-grade oxygen per day, and clean water as a by-product. It is also designed for quick setup and easy expansion.
“Many Nigerian hospitals depend on the unstable national power grid, often experiencing power cuts of 8 to 10 hours daily, so they rely on diesel generators, which pollute the environment,” he said.
“With our system, called Just Add Water, hospitals can power essential medical equipment, produce oxygen on-site, and get clean water — all of which improve healthcare services,” he added.
The project is supported by the Powering Healthcare Innovation Fund and uses a modular design powered by water and solar energy to improve healthcare delivery.
Nwasor said Just Add Water is built specifically for the health sector. It combines solar power with PEM technology to generate electricity, oxygen, and water — all essential for hospitals.
He revealed that the system is already being installed in three hospitals in Lagos, which together serve more than 24,000 patients each year.
By reducing the need for diesel generators and the unreliable electricity grid, the system is expected to cut over 150 tonnes of carbon emissions and produce about 274 megawatt-hours of clean electricity in its first year.
To make the project sustainable, Newdigit is training hospital workers and local technicians on how to use and maintain the system.
“This hands-on training helps hospitals keep the system running smoothly and manage their own electricity and oxygen supply,” he said.
Joy Princess, co-founder and Chief Operating Officer, said Lagos is the starting point for installation and training. Their goal is to reach at least 1,000 hospitals across Nigeria by 2030.
“We want to improve the lives of millions of patients every year,” she said.
The Just Add Water project received funding from the Powering Healthcare Innovation Fund, launched in 2024 by Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), with support from UK aid through the Transforming Energy Access (TEA) initiative. The fund supports creative ideas for powering healthcare.
Out of 84 applicants, only three projects were selected for funding. Newdigit received a \$50,000 grant to develop and implement its clean energy and oxygen system. The project began in September 2024 and is expected to finish this month.
Charlie Knight, Senior Energy Officer at SEforALL, said: “Newdigit’s solution shows how renewable energy and innovation can solve many problems in healthcare at once.”
“This project proves that clean technologies can provide reliable electricity, oxygen, and water — all at the same time — and could help build stronger health systems across Africa,” Knight added.
