Recording of Wednesday, May 07, 2025 | The smarter E Europe Conferences 2025 | Conference Program | Language: English | Duration: 10:41 .
Phaesun GmbH, a company specializing in PV off-grid systems, has developed an innovative project focused on constructing low-carbon cold rooms using their self-chill solar cooling technology. This initiative was implemented in Homa Bay, Kenya. The self-chill system utilizes DC technology with electricity sourced from photovoltaic panels and features vapor compression heat pumps for thermal energy storage through water chillers. These components work together to maintain target temperatures of 6-12 degrees Celsius for storing fruits and vegetables or milk tanks. The construction involved standard PU foam sandwich panels but also explored sustainable alternatives by collaborating with partners like WeHub Victoria Limited (V2), Solar Cooling Engineering, Efficiency for Access, and Energy Saving Trust. Together they aimed to minimize CO2 emissions by incorporating natural materials such as straw walls and recycled tetrapaks into the design. This setup includes unique elements like air pre-cooling charcoal coolers integrated within the structure's back wall and floor constructed from wood-straw-recycled ecoboards while utilizing rainwater collection techniques alongside shading structures atop rooftops equipped with PV modules ensuring optimal efficiency throughout operations reducing carbon footprint significantly compared against conventional designs primarily due reliance upon biogenic refrigerants instead harmful counterparts typically found elsewhere industry-wide today ultimately benefiting local market vendors who can now rent space store green leafy produce longer periods without spoilage issues previously encountered before installation took place last September culminating official inauguration event attended notable figures including German deputy ambassador showcasing impressive greenhouse gas savings achieved thus far since inception date earlier this year!
Automated summarization by AI Conver
Géraldine Quelle
Project Manager
Phaesun GmbH
Germany
Electric cooking with solar energy is on the rise as both solar and battery technologies continue to improve, making it viable for off-grid homes. One of the main hurdles for solar-powered electric cooking has been energy storage. Cooking typically requires a large amount of energy for a short period, while solar generation is intermittent. However, advancements in lithium-ion and solid-state battery technology have made energy storage more efficient, allowing for cooking after sundown or on cloudy days. The efficiency of electric cooking appliances has also improved: In induction stoves, for example, most of the energy goes directly into heating the pot or pan. Appliances like electric pressure cookers and slow cookers are also energy-efficient. They can be ideal for solar-powered cooking setups, as they require a relatively low, steady energy input over a long period of time. With continuous advancements in solar PV and battery storage, solar electric cooking is likely to spread further in regions where grid access is limited or costly, such as parts of Africa, South Asia, and Latin America. In off-grid areas with limited access to electricity, PV systems are also key for powering refrigerators, freezers, refrigerated containers, and cold rooms. They are particularly valuable in rural or remote settings for storing perishable goods, medicines, and vaccines. New technological developments have significantly increased the efficiency of solar refrigeration systems, minimizing or even eliminating the need for battery power at night and during periods of low sunlight.Solar energy can also be used to purify or treat water to make it safe to drink or for agricultural or industrial use. This method leverages the power of sunlight, either directly or indirectly, to remove contaminants, pathogens, and impurities from water. There is a variety of methods for solar water treatment, ranging from using the sun's UV-A rays and heat to complex solar-powered water filtration systems where PV-generated electricity is used to pump water through advanced filtration systems such as ultrafiltration or RO (reverse osmosis). However, solar water treatment systems are still costly and require advanced technology and expertise.This session will provide an overview of current developments and insights into new applications for solar-powered cooking, cooling and water treatment.
Further Talks of this session:
Speaker
Deepak Mohapatra
Senior Officer - Business & Market Development
Alliance for Rural Electrification
Belgium
Speaker
Veit Goehringer
Advisor
GIZ - Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit
India
Speaker
Christa Roth
Director
Food and Fuel Consultants
Germany
Speaker
Anna Shepelenko
COO
Boreal Light GmbH
Germany
Speaker
Mark Kragh
Co-Founder & CTO
Off-Grid Europe GmbH
Germany