SunDanzer: Solar-Powered Refrigeration for Kenyan Dairy Farms

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Revision as of 13:26, 19 April 2018 by ***** (***** | *****) (→‎Progress Update)

Overview

Innovator

SunDanzer


SunDanzer Logo.png

Project

Solar-Powered Refrigeration for Dairy Farms

Collaborators

Winrock International (USA)

Location Applied

Kenya

Due to limited electrification in rural areas, 85% of Kenya’s 800,000+ dairy farms do not have access to refrigerated storage and transportation. This deficiency in the distribution chain results in less than half of the milk produced reaching dairy processors. Of the milk that is processed, up to 30% of it may spoil without appropriate cold-storage options. Consequently, many dairy farmers and processors unnecessarily may lose significant earning potential from their operations.[1]


Clean Energy Solution

Recognizing the need for affordable cold-chain technologies, SunDanzer is developing a small-scale portable cooling system tailored for use in the Kenyan dairy market. The system comprises a photovoltaic refrigerator (PVR) that uses solar energy to cool a chest refrigerator. This technology may use a battery for energy storage or phase-change materials - substances which are capable of storing and releasing large amounts of energy - or a combination of both. SunDanzer will evaluate freezing phase-change material into “milk packs.” The portable milk packs retain their cold temperature overnight, and in the morning, farmers use them to keep collected milk cold in sterilized aluminum milk containers as they transport it to dairy processing facilities.[1]



Impact

Refrigerator © SunDanzer Refrigeration

This clean energy solution aims to increase dairy farm productivity and income by significantly decreasing milk spoilage. Effective cold-chain storage lowers bacteria count and improves milk quality for consumers. These improvements can play a major role in the livelihoods of approximately one million smallholder dairy farming families in Kenya.[1]



Organization

SunDanzer has 14 years of experience with off-grid refrigeration needs, including developing the world’s first battery-free solar powered refrigerator.[2] Winrock International is a leader in agricultural development and has more than a quarter century of experience with renewable energy based rural electrification. It has supported the installation of more than 80,000 rural renewable energy systems around the globe and has three offices in Kenya.[3]


Progress Update

To date, SunDanzer has delivered and installed nearly 70 solar milk cooling refrigerators in Kenya, and installed two units in Rwanda. The second generation units currently being installed are roof-mounted, a more cost-effective option than the previous generation, which were pole-mounted. Most units continue to be installed at dairy farms, with camel milk processors being among the newest customers. SunDanzer and their partner Winrock International co-hosted a 2-day Renewable Energy Cold Chain workshop and field visit in February 2017, with over 70 attendees. In their third phase of deployment, SunDanzer expects to install an additional 25 units in Kenya and 75 units in other countries by early 2018. SunDanzer’s project has been extended to May 2018. Users have stated that the solution has provided benefits that include adding financial security to the household, cell phone charging which saved time and added income to the household, as well as food preservation.[1]



Further Information


References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Powering Agricutlure: http://poweringag.org/innovators/solar-powered-refrigeration-dairy-farms
  2. ↑ SunDanzer: http://sundanzer.com/fckLR
  3. ↑ Winrock International: http://www.winrock.org.np/index.php
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