Click here to register!
Difference between revisions of "SunDanzer: Solar-Powered Refrigeration for Kenyan Dairy Farms"
***** (***** | *****) |
***** (***** | *****) m |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| − | = | + | = Overview<br/> = |
| − | Due to limited electrification in rural areas, 85 | + | Due to limited electrification in rural areas, 85% of [[Kenya Energy Situation|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.<ref name="Powering Agriculture, SunDanzer: http://poweringag.org/2013-winners/sundanzer">Powering Agriculture, SunDanzer: http://poweringag.org/2013-winners/sundanzer</ref><br/> |
| − | + | <br/> | |
| − | [[File:The refrigerator.png| | + | = Clean Energy Solution<br/> = |
| + | |||
| + | [[File:The refrigerator.png|thumb|right|234px|The refrigerator © Powering Agriculture]]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.<ref name="Powering Agriculture, SunDanzer: http://poweringag.org/2013-winners/sundanzer">Powering Agriculture, SunDanzer: http://poweringag.org/2013-winners/sundanzer</ref> | ||
<br/> | <br/> | ||
| − | + | = Impact<br/> = | |
| + | |||
| + | 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_Energy_Situation|Kenya]].<ref name="Powering Agriculture, SunDanzer: http://poweringag.org/2013-winners/sundanzer">Powering Agriculture, SunDanzer: http://poweringag.org/2013-winners/sundanzer</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | <br/> | ||
| − | + | = Organization<br/> = | |
| − | == | + | [http://sundanzer.com/ SunDanzer] has 14 years of experience with off-grid refrigeration needs, including developing the world’s first battery-free solar powered refrigerator.<ref name="SunDanzer: http://sundanzer.com/">SunDanzer: http://sundanzer.com/ |
| + | </ref> [http://www.winrock.org.np/index.php 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.<ref name="Winrock International: http://www.winrock.org.np/index.php">Winrock International: http://www.winrock.org.np/index.php</ref><br/> | ||
| − | + | <br/> | |
| − | + | = Further Information = | |
| − | + | *[http://poweringag.org/2013-winners/sundanzer Powering Agriculture: SunDanzer Refrigeration] | |
| − | *[http://poweringag.org/2013-winners/sundanzer | + | *[http://sundanzer.com/ SunDanzer Homepage] |
| − | *[http://sundanzer.com/ | ||
*[[Powering Agriculture: An Energy Grand Challenge for Development initiative - Winners|Powering Agriculture: An Energy Grand Challenge for Development initiative - Winners]] | *[[Powering Agriculture: An Energy Grand Challenge for Development initiative - Winners|Powering Agriculture: An Energy Grand Challenge for Development initiative - Winners]] | ||
| + | *[http://www.winrock.org.np/index.php Winrock International Homepage] | ||
| + | *[[Portal:Powering_Agriculture|Powering Agriculture Portal on energypedia]] | ||
| + | *[[Kenya_Energy_Situation|Kenya Energy Situation]] | ||
| + | |||
| − | |||
| − | + | = References = | |
| + | <references /> | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Category:Cooling]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Solar]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Batteries]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Impacts]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Powering_Agriculture]] | ||
[[Category:Kenya]] | [[Category:Kenya]] | ||
| − | |||
| − | |||
Revision as of 12:04, 6 November 2014
Overview
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
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]
Further Information
- Powering Agriculture: SunDanzer Refrigeration
- SunDanzer Homepage
- Powering Agriculture: An Energy Grand Challenge for Development initiative - Winners
- Winrock International Homepage
- Powering Agriculture Portal on energypedia
- Kenya Energy Situation
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Powering Agriculture, SunDanzer: http://poweringag.org/2013-winners/sundanzer
- ↑ SunDanzer: http://sundanzer.com/
- ↑ Winrock International: http://www.winrock.org.np/index.php
