SelfChill Webinar Series and Trainings

Sustainable Cooling Technologies For Preservation Of Crops

The Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute (NSPRI) in collaboration with Phaesun and Solar Cooling Engineering, Germany, invites you to a training programme on “Solar Cooling Technologies for Reducing Postharvest Food Losses”.

Introduction

Nigeria produces over 10 million tonnes of fruits and vegetables annually. Studies have shown that post-harvest losses in these commodities can be as high as 50% especially in rural communities. The high losses are attributed to poor handling and storage coupled with poorly developed cooling chains and irregular electricity supply. The application of solar cooling technologies is a sustainable solution to the problem of cooling chain and has the potential to reduce postharvest losses in fresh commodities.

NSPRI, Ilorin, Nigeria has the mandate of conducting research into postharvest management of crops grown and consumed in Nigeria with the goal of reducing postharvest food losses and improving food and nutrition security. The German partners, Solar Cooling Engineering GmbH and Phaesun GmbH have been in research on solar cooling technologies since 2013 and have implemented solar cooling solutions for fruits and vegetables, as well as milk cooling systems under the brand SelfChill®. The consortium offers workshops and training series targeting stakeholders from the agricultural and cold-chain business sectors, scientists and technicians.

Webinar Session 1: January 26, 2023

Basics of solar refrigeration, product quality, principles of heat pumps, best practices of solar cold rooms design

Webinar Session 2: April 5, 2023

Theoretical sizing of solar powered cold rooms, cooling demand (Thermal losses, infiltration etc.), ice storage design, battery and PV planning

Webinar Session 3: July 5, 2023

Design toolbox for solar powered cold rooms

10 am – 13 pm WAT: Design of solar powered cold rooms

Review basics of refrigeration

Solar storage rooms design

PC practical (Excel-tool)

Test of the content from the 3 webinars (Optional)

The Webinar Sessions will be held online via Zoom. Registered participants will receive a link prior to the event.

For registration, please use the registration form below.

Outlook:
On-site Training Session (Design, installation, and operation of solar powered cold rooms for food storage) will take place at NSPRI, Ilorin on September 4 and 5, 2023. Further information will be published soon.

The training programme is part of the RES Project Nigeria. The RES Project Nigeria is supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action as part of the Renewable Energy Solutions Programme of the German Energy Solutions Initiative.