Off-Grid Europe’s ‘Much Cooler’ project integrates solar panels with lithium-iron-phosphate batteries to provide off-grid cooling, reducing food waste and operational costs
The warehouse offers over 50 m³ of storage, with controlled temperatures, food-safe surfaces, and fire protection to meet safety standards
Set to launch in Senegal, the project aims to serve as a scalable, sustainable solution for perishable food storage in regions without grid access
The ‘Much Cooler’ project by Off-Grid Europe was a finalist in the Smart Integrated Energy category at The smarter E AWARD 2024 for its solution for food storage in off-grid, hot regions. The system is designed to address the significant food waste issues in developing countries due to inadequate refrigeration, this system integrates solar panels into the warehouse structure. These panels power a cooling system, operated at night through energy stored in lithium-iron-phosphate battery systems, reducing operational costs and complexity.
The project encompasses several key components, including a large warehouse for storage, a steel mounting structure to secure the solar panels, and a photovoltaic and battery energy storage system (PV and BESS) that ensures a reliable power supply. The warehouse features are specifically tailored to enhance food safety and storage efficiency: it spans 30 x 20 x 6 m, offering more than 50 m³ of usable storage space. It maintains a temperature range of 6-14°C, suitable for various food products, with food-safe surfaces and fire protection systems installed to ensure compliance with safety standards.
This carefully considered design makes ‘Much Cooler’ a scalable model for future roll-outs across similar environments in need of sustainable cooling solutions. Set for a pilot installation in Senegal within the year, this model aims to demonstrate a viable method for preserving perishable goods in regions without grid electricity, leveraging renewable energy for sustainable operations.