Optimisation for commercialisation of off-grid mobile solar cooling system for the Nigerian agri-food market ‘SolTech2’

About the project

UK-registered Partner: Brunel University London – Savvas Tassou
Africa-registered Partner: Netune Atlantic Ltd – Jasper Ogbonna

The SolTech2 project ‘Optimisation for commercialisation of off-grid mobile solar cooling system for the Nigerian agri-food market’ addresses the challenges of provision of sustainable cooling and refrigeration in developing countries at affordable owning and operating costs.

Even though cooling and refrigeration is taken for granted in the developed world, 2.0 billion people, over a quarter of the global population, do not have access to cooling and refrigeration due to the complete lack or unreliability of electrical power supply and the high ownership costs.

The vision of SolTech2 is to facilitate access to cooling and refrigeration by building on previous research and development experience of the applicants and feasibility study projects funded by UKRI, to develop further towards commercialisation innovative off-grid mobile cooling and refrigeration technologies, initially for the Nigerian market.

Previous research has demonstrated the feasibility of the SolTech technology. SolTech2 has built on previous work by addressing design optimisation of the trailer box to reduce cooling load and energy requirements and maximise off-grid operation through energy storage and its integration with the cooling system.

The project has also engaged with the users of a pilot SolTech system located at a horticulture market in Abuja Nigeria to obtain their views in order to inform design modifications to improve usability and performance, and the development of appropriate business models to aid commercialisation.

Learn more about the project in this recording from our recent GCRF AgriFood Africa Project Showcase event.