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SOLAR OXYGEN LABS
THE NEED
Oxygen is listed by the World Health Organization (WHO) as an Essential Medicine for the treatment of hypoxemic conditions (those with low blood oxygen levels) affecting newborns, the elderly, acute illnesses such as pneumonia and shock, as well as chronic illnesses like asthma and COPD. Access to oxygen is a critical issue in low-resource settings across the globe. Studies have demonstrated that reliable access to oxygen can reduce deaths due to pneumonia in children by up to 35%. However, current oxygen delivery methods are not feasible. For example, in Uganda, less than 35% of facilities have access to sufficient medical-grade oxygen, and less than 10% of pediatric wards have access to adequate medical-grade oxygen therapy.
Access to oxygen is tenuous in many such areas because of energy insecurity. When power outages occur, grid based-oxygen converters stop working and patients receiving continuous oxygen therapy suffer as a result. Some facilities resort to buying pre-filled oxygen canisters from large-scale oxygen plants, but these orders can take months to be fulfilled and prices can be cost-prohibitive for the healthcare facilities most in need of them.
In the “post-CoVID” era, we are all acutely aware of the impact of preventable deaths due to respiratory illness. The development of robust, resilient oxygen supply chains is a cornerstone of sustainable healthcare development and of building resiliency to energy insecurity.
25 Solaire One installations implemented into healthcare facilities in Uganda, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Somalia, having been custom built for each facilitiy's sun exposure, patient volumes, and energy expenditure.
OUR SOLUTION
Solar Oxygen Labs (SOLabs) is a social impact startup that develops technology and business solutions to combat worldwide oxygen insecurity by providing reliable and sustainable access to medical-grade oxygen off-the-grid.
The flagship SOLabs product is Solaire One, a solar-powered oxygen concentrator that generates 24/7 medical-grade oxygen with the free inputs of sun and air.
Solaire One systems are installed by SOLabs at healthcare facilities after a thorough needs assessment that characterizes the customer's sun exposure, patient volumes and oxygen deficits, and current energy supply and demand. The systems are custom-made to optimize cost-effective value generation for each client, according to these parameters.
Simple, Elegant Technology for Reproducible Scale
The Solaire One system is purposefully built from a modular array of hardware components that can be easily sourced and distributed.
This allows our team both to scale quickly but also to customize our product installations to customer needs.
Cost-Effectiveness
Reliability
Resource Generation
Ease-of-Use
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Cost of only $20 per disability-adjusted life year (DALY) compared to $100 per DALY for the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine.
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52% lower cost of oxygen delivery than oxygen cylinders at $4.10USD per 1,000L.
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Off-the-grid continuous oxygen delivery for patient by harvesting sunlight via strategically positioned solar panels
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No combination of nightfall, overcast weather, or power outages can stop Solaire One from providing continuous, life-sustaining oxygen therapy.
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Minimal maintenance needs and custom-installation tailored customer needs
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Excess generation of electrical energy and compressed oxygen during times of surplus can be potentially rerouted to offset the total energy expenditure of a healthcare facility and be sold in oxygen cylinders, respectively. This functionality is being explored and developed by SOLabs.
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The Solaire One will eventually pay for itself and generate long-term financial value for SOLabs customers.
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Solaire One systems require minimal training, only needing to be powered on and dialed to the appropriate oxygen flow rate.
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Early users, including nursing staff and physicians, and reported user-friendliness and accessibility.
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Local staff can be easily trained to perform regular maintenance on systems and technical troubleshooting can be managed by local technicians without requiring specific expertise.
The Solaire One Advantage
Rigorous Academic Backing
SOLabs technology is built on a foundation of peer-reviewed evidence published in several academic journals. These articles have proven the importance and efficacy of the Solaire One system and serve as our proof of concept.
Proof-of-concept of solar-powered oxygen delivery built upon findings that it is effective at delivering therapeutic oxygen to pediatric patients.
Non-inferiority of solar-powered oxygen delivery established in comparison to standard grid-powered oxygen delivery.
Non-inferiority proved relatived to oxygen delivery via prefilled oxygen cylinders.
Cost-effectiveness proved relative to grid-powered oxygen concentrators and cost-saving relative to fuel generator-powered oxygen concentrators.
Mortality benefit demonstrated in children with hypoxemic respiratory conditions treated with solar-powered oxygen therapy.
OUR PROGRESS
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25 custom-made Solaire One systems installed in hospitals across Uganda, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Somalia.
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Tens of thousands of patients treated using Solaire One.
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Successful implementation and ongoing use in conflict and pandemic-affected regions.
GROWTH ROADMAP
Successful implementation and ongoing use in conflict and pandemic-affected regions.
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Optimize Solaire One systems for maximal efficiency.
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Build a remote monitoring system for enhanced system maintenance and data analytics.
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NEWS & UPDATES
PARTNERS
GET INVOLVED
Breathe life into patients battling respiratory illness with the power of the sun.