Share

IIR document

Decarbonisation pathways for cold rooms in India using renewable energy and low GWP refrigerants.

Number: 18363

Author(s) : SINGHA P., SAINI S. K., WIDELL K. N.

Summary

India’s food chain faces growing challenges from rising ambient temperatures, energy constraints, and post-harvest losses of nearly 30% for some commodities due to inadequate infrastructure and the absence of standard processes. Despite recent expansion, the cold chain sector remains highly energy-intensive, with limited integration of renewable energy and continued reliance on high-GWP refrigerants. This study evaluates a solar photovoltaics (PV)–powered micro cold room integrated with thermal energy storage (TES) to support during the absence of solar energy, using R290 as refrigerant, and compares its performance with grid-dependent and partially PV-assisted configurations. The R290-based system demonstrates up to 11% lower annual energy consumption compared to R404A systems, with an improved coefficient of performance and a 10% reduction in total equivalent warming impact. PV–TES integration enables grid independence. Large-scale deployment could reduce emissions by up to 9,900 kilotonnes by 2050, supporting food security and climate goals nationally significantly.

Available documents

Format PDF

Pages: 12 p.

Available

  • Public price

    20 €

  • Member price*

    15 €

* Best rate depending on membership category (see the detailed benefits of individual and corporate memberships).

Details

  • Original title: Decarbonisation pathways for cold rooms in India using renewable energy and low GWP refrigerants.
  • Record ID : 30034740
  • Languages: English
  • Subject: Environment
  • Source: 9th IIR International Conference on Sustainability and the Cold Chain. Proceedings: April 12-14 2026
  • Publication date: 2026/04
  • DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18462/iir.iccc.2026.8363

Links


See other articles from the proceedings (52)
See the conference proceedings

Indexing