ColdHubs - Solar Cold Rooms in Nigeria
Solar Cold Hubs
The innovative technology Cold Hubs is a modular, solar-powered walk-in cold room, for 24/7 off-grid storage and preservation of perishable foods. The system is designed to address the problem of post-harvest losses in fruits, vegetables and other perishable foods. Cold Hubs can be installed in major food production and consumption centers such as food markets. This technology allows for farmers to extend the freshness of their harvest from approx. 2 days to 21 days. The foods are placed in clean plastic crates which are stacked inside the cold room for a daily fee.
Background
Technology
The solar powered walk-in cold room is made of 120mm insulating cold room panels to retain the low temperature. Energy from solar panels mounted on the roof-top of the cold room are stored in high capacity batteries which feed an inverter which in turn feeds the refrigerating unit.
Food Security in Nigeria
Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa and the seventh most populous country in the world[i]. The agricultural sector contributes to 40 percent of Nigeria´s GDP and employs approximately two-thirds of the country’s total labour force[i].
[i] Food Security Portal, “Nigeria”, Accessed Oct.10 2019 http://www.foodsecurityportal.org/nigeria/resources
