Phase Change Materials (PCM) Products: The Future of Efficient Refrigeration?
Refrigeration challenges in off- and weak-grid settings in the Global South lead to significant post-harvest losses. Phase Change Material (PCM) Products has addressed this issue with innovative refrigeration technologies designed to prevent food loss and spoilage.
In Africa, more than 70 percent of the population lack stable grid connections, making refrigeration and cold storage for storing produce and medicines unsustainable. Half of all the food in Africa is lost at the post-harvest stage or before it reaches the market: a direct result of insufficient access to cooling solutions that keep fruit and vegetables cool in hot climates.
A solution to this is the Sust-Fridge, a solar-powered refrigerator that uses PCMs to keep produce cool for extended periods without electricity. Capable of maintaining low temperatures for up to five hours during power cuts or at night, this fridge boasts higher energy efficiency, reduces food spoilage, boosts economic activity, and offers 40% annual savings on running costs.
Explore the future of efficient, sustainable, affordable cooling in PCM Products’ full story.