Keep it fresh, keep it profitable
04/2023 - 05/2026
Partners
General Overview
After three years of successful collaboration, the project partners Phaesun GmbH and Solar Cooling Engineering GmbH (SCE) have successfully completed the international development project “BE Cool – Business Empowerment through solar cooling solutions”. The project was aimed to establish sustainable and affordable solar-powered cooling solutions for agricultural value chains in Ghana and Kenya. It was co-financed by DEG Impulse, a subsidiary of DEG – Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH, using funds from the develoPPP programme.
Background
Nearly 40 percent of the workforce in Ghana as well as in Kenya is employed in agriculture. Especially in rural areas where agriculture is present and electricity is rarely available, many smallholder farmers face post-harvest losses due to lack of refrigeration. SelfChill together with farmers and food traders had a close look on agricultural value chains in order to implement business models using innovative solar-driven cold rooms to store fruits and vegetables along the supply chain.
Project Outcome
- Two SelfChill cold rooms in Kenya and one SelfChill cold room in Ghana for rural communities and food traders were implemented.
- Different business models for the operation of solar-powered cold rooms at market places and for traders were tested and documented.
- Research on business models and financing schemes resulted in publications and presentations.
- A Cooling-as-a-Service-App was developed , tested and implemented.
- Two workshops to analyze agricultural value chains and the potential of cooling systems were operated.
- Three technical trainings for the construction and installation of solar-powered cold rooms were operated in Kenya and Ghana.
- One innovators workshops to develop cooling projects with local entrepreneurs was operated in Ghana.
- Promotion and awareness building measures were done, such as presentations at international conferences in Europe and Africa as well as talsk on the local basis with market leaders, food traders and local stakeholders.
- After-sales service support was established.
- Sustainable monitoring and control system was implemented.
- Long-term relations were set-up with a partner network in Kenya and Ghana for installation, operation and after-sales support for solar-powered cold rooms
Support
The project “BE Cool – Business Empowerment through solar cooling solutions” was implemented by Phaesun GmbH together with Solar Cooling Engineering GmbH within the framework of the develoPPP programme with a run-time of 2023-2026. DEG Impulse supports the project with funds from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
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