Publication - Designing for Sustainability: Blueprint for a Low-Carbon Cold Room

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Title

Designing for Sustainability: Blueprint for a Low-Carbon Cold Room

Publisher

Efficiency for Access

Author

Stuart Walker, Jakub Vrba, Victor Torres, Blessing Machokoto, Ana Salvatierra, Francis Maina, Humphrey Anjila, Stefan Oeschger, Charles Ogalo, and Jan Broeze

Published in

June 2025

Abstract

Sub-Saharan Africa, which faces the highest absolute and per capita greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from food loss, has much to gain from optimised cold chain management, with the potential to reduce these emissions by an impressive 66%.

However, if business as usual continues, the increasing demand for cooling also increases energy-related and product-embedded GHG emissions. Local assembly of cooling solutions presents a viable opportunity to mitigate GHG emissions while also delivering substantial social and economic benefits.

Maintaining fresh produce like fruit and vegetables within the critical temperature range of 0–10°C and a relative humidity of 80-95% is essential for ensuring secure and efficient food supply chains. Yet limited access to reliable grid electricity in many regions of Sub-Saharan Africa poses a significant challenge, leaving underserved communities without the necessary cooling infrastructure to achieve the optimal food storage conditions.

Solar-powered cold rooms with high local content are a promising solution to address this multifaceted challenge.

URL

link to the document

Admin:
No

PIE Grant (Grid Portal)?
No

No

• Climate Change

• Solar

• Other