ShareBlueprint for a sustainable off-grid solar-powered cold room 20% cheaper than state of the art
In June 2025, Efficiency for Access published a report on constructing a sustainable solar-powered cold room using natural and locally available materials. Their design reduced embedded GHG emissions by 63% and cost by 20% compared to the best-in-class cold room, which is insulated with regulated polyurethane sandwich panels.
According to IIR, the world’s refrigerated warehouse capacity has increased significantly in recent years, but many developing countries still require substantial additional capacity to meet their cold chain needs [1].
Strengthening the food cold chain is a global imperative to reduce food loss and ensure food security. In the sub-Saharan African region, more than 38% of food losses occur at production, postharvest handling and processing stages, according to FAO and IIR estimates [2]. With only half (53.3%) [3] of the population in sub-Saharan Africa having access to electricity, there is a pressing need for locally created, sustainable cold rooms, suited to off- and weak-grid areas.
In June 2025, Efficiency for Access published a report which serves as an essential resource for off-grid solar companies and practitioners aiming to design and implement high-performing, low-carbon cold chain solutions [4].
The report is a blueprint on how to design and build an energy-efficient, high-quality cold room that uses solar photovoltaic panels, thermal and battery storage, and natural, environmentally friendly materials for wall insulation.
The project demonstrated that a cold room made from natural and locally available materials could generate minimal greenhouse gas emissions. The final design reduced embedded GHG emissions by 63% and cost by 20% compared to the best-in-class cold room, which is insulated with regulated polyurethane sandwich panels [5].
Additionally, the standalone solar-powered system saves nearly four times more GHG emissions over a 20-year lifespan compared to grid-connected alternatives, even in regions with relatively clean electricity grids like Kenya [5].
Key recommendations include:
- Multidisciplinary Expertise: Assemble diverse experts and local stakeholders early
- Local Collaboration: Work with local suppliers and professionals from the start
- Smart Designs: Use simple, effective designs and optimisation tools
- Life Cycle Assessment: Use LCA tools for informed design decisions that reduce environmental impact and lower costs
- Mock-Ups: Test key construction elements with mock-ups
- Storage Compliance: Ensure design meets storage and food safety regulations
- Humidity Management: Choose insulation materials suitable for recommended humidity levels
- Carbon Reduction: Choose hybrid energy storage solutions to minimise GHG emissions
- Green Techniques: Implement eco-friendly materials passive cooling technique
- Cooling Efficiency: Enhance energy efficiency with evaporative cooling and thermal storage
The complete report is available on the Efficiency for Access website as well as on FRIDOC.
Sources
[1] Baha M., Hammami S., Dupont J-L. The Role of Refrigeration in the Global Economy. 3rd edition. 60th Technical Brief on Refrigeration Technologies. International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR), Paris. http://dx.doi.org/10.18462/iir.TechBrief.04.2025
[2] IIR. The Role of Refrigeration in Worldwide Nutrition — 6th Informatory Note on Refrigeration and Food. International Institute of Refrigeration. 2020. https://iifiir.org/en/fridoc/the-role-of-refrigeration-in-worldwide-nutrition-2020-142029
[3] World Bank. SDG 7.1.1 Electrification Dataset. https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/EG.ELC.ACCS.ZS?locations=ZG
[4] Designing for Sustainability: Blueprint for a Low-Carbon Cold Room. https://efficiencyforaccess.org/publications/designing-for-sustainability-blueprint-for-a-low-carbon-cold-room/