Phaesun GmbH from Memmingen has been honored with The smarter E AWARD 2025 in the “Outstanding Projects” category for its project “BeCool: Clean Cooling for Markets in Kenya.” The award ceremony took place on May 6, 2025, at the International Congress Center Messe München during the world’s largest trade fair for solar technology and storage systems, The smarter E/Intersolar.
The “BeCool” project addresses the challenge of post-harvest losses in rural areas of Kenya, where farmers and traders have limited access to refrigeration, and the electricity grid coverage is insufficient.
In collaboration with local partners, Phaesun has installed solar-powered cold rooms that enable market vendors to keep their products fresh for longer, thereby improving their income situation. This solution not only contributes to reducing food losses but also promotes access to sustainable energy in rural regions.
The cold rooms are based on SelfChill technology, a particularly sustainable technical solution that minimizes investment costs and increases efficiency by using ice storage. Additionally, the latest installations focus on life cycle assessment, utilizing primarily renewable and recycled materials in construction to create a nearly CO₂-neutral cold room. The introduction of the cold rooms is accompanied by a “Cooling-as-a-Service” model, allowing market vendors to rent cells in the cold room for a fee.
The jury of The smarter E AWARD recognized the project for its innovative approach, integration of renewable energy into cooling technology, and positive impact on the local community. “BeCool” was highlighted as an outstanding example of implementing the energy transition in developing countries.
“We are very pleased with this award, which reaffirms our commitment to sustainable projects,” said Tobias Zwirner, Managing Director of Phaesun GmbH. “The smarter E AWARD motivates us to continue thinking ‘out of the box’ and sometimes to listen to local market vendors rather than large technology providers.”
For more information about the award ceremony and the “BeCool” project, please visit https://www.thesmartere-award.com/hall-of-fame/thesmartere-award-winner-2025/phaesun.
