Cold Storage Runs on Power: Can Renewable Energy Solve the Cooling Crisis?

 

What if you were told that Indian farms and food businesses are starving for cold storages? Nearly half of India’s milk, fruits, and vegetables spoil post-harvest due to the lack of sufficient cold rooms across the country.

Currently, India meets only about 10–15% of the estimated cold storage demand. Running cold chains requires constant flow of electricity, which is unfortunately not happening as of now.

In rural areas, many villages receive only a few hours of grid power per day, so farmers have to depend on diesel generators, which are not only expensive but polluting as well.

Power Challenges in the Cold Chain

People who own or send their produce to cold storage facilities know that a brief power cut in a cold room can spoil significant amounts of produce.

Many companies provide walk-in cold rooms across the country and they can be as cheap as solar cooling. However, they rely on grid power or diesel to run, so again comes the issue of inconsistency in power supply and expense on diesel, which make up 20–30% of the total running costs.

That is why solar-powered cold storages are becoming popular. They can work independently without depending on the grid or fuel. They help reduce power outages and running costs, which is good news for everyone from farmers to food businesses.

The Solar Push Behind India’s Cooling Sector

The good news is that solar energy, as an alternative to fossil fuels, is gaining popularity in India. People are actually adopting solar for homes as well and not just for industrial or business purposes.

Stakeholders in the cold storage industry also believe that solar energy is a practical cooling solution.

New guidelines from MNRE encourage solar PV systems with thermal backup (ice- or PCM-based) for farm-level cold rooms. Solar panels charge ice or salt-based phase-change packs in the day, and these thermal batteries keep the chamber cold through the night or cloudy periods.

Thanks to schemes like the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund and MNRE subsidies, over 1,400 solar cold storage units have already been installed across the country.

In 2016, for example, MNRE extended a 30% capital subsidy to experimental solar cold stores.

While these units cost ₹30–40 lakh each, they eliminate approximately 20–30% of the running cost of grid power.

State and central programs such as PM-KUSUM for solar irrigation and agriculture, and new clean-cooling schemes provide grants and low-interest loans. Moreover, solar cold rooms also qualify for green energy incentives, further lowering net cost.

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