Solar Powered Horticulture Cold Chains (Sol-Tech)

在全球范围内，食物链遭受了巨大的损失，园艺产品的损失可能高达产量的70%。这相当于全球温室气体排放量的8%，以及水和能源等资源的大量损失。粮食损失和浪费是由许多原因造成的，其中包括基础设施不足、缺乏或不可靠的能源供应、缺乏技能和进入市场的机会。在发展中国家，特别是非洲和印度，造成粮食损失的一个关键因素是，用于保存新鲜农产品和向市场分发新鲜农产品的冷链供应非常有限。Sol-Tech项目旨在为应对食物浪费挑战和关键的可持续发展挑战和目标做出贡献，包括到2030年将食物浪费减半，为所有人提供能源，减轻贫困和营养不良。这将通过建立在以前和目前的研究基础上，开发出一种创新但负担得起的太阳能模块化生鲜食品冷藏和第一英里分配系统，以应用于没有或有限和不可靠的电网接入的地区，从而达到商业化阶段。Sol-Tech将涉及来自英国、非洲和印度的学术界和工业界合作伙伴之间的合作，以确保技术的开发和商业化符合发展中国家的需求以及当地的政治、社会经济和市场条件。该技术的创新潜力和影响是巨大的。主要创新包括：i)大幅减少食物运输冷藏保温箱的热负荷达40%；ii)使用太阳能驱动车载制冷系统和混合电力和热能储存，以消除对新鲜农产品预冷、储存和分发的化石燃料需求；iii)适应性强的车载小气候控制和通信系统，以最大限度地减少蒸腾损失、延长保质期和最大限度地提高交货点的产品质量。该项目还将研究和开发适合特定本地市场的适当商业模式和商业化策略，以确保产品成功商业化和产生最大影响。

Globally food chains experience substantial losses which for horticulture products can be as high as 70% of production. This represents 8 percent of global Greenhouse Gas Emissions, and substantial loss of resources such as water and energy. Food losses and waste result from to many reasons, which include inadequate infrastructure and lack or unreliable energy supply, lack of skills and access to markets. A key contributor to food loss in developing countries and in particular Africa and India is the very limited availability of cold food chains for the preservation and temperature controlled distribution of fresh produce to markets. The Sol-Tech project aims to make a contribution to addressing the food waste challenge and key Sustainable Development Challenges and Goals, including halving food waste by 2030, providing access to energy for all and alleviation of poverty and malnutrition. This will be achieved by building on previous and current research to develop to commercialisation stage an innovative but affordable solar powered modular fresh food cold storage and first mile distribution system for application in areas with no or limited and unreliable access to the electricity grid. Sol-Tech will involve collaboration between academic and industry partners from the UK, Africa and India to ensure that the technology development and commercialisation is informed by developing country needs and local political, socioeconomic and market conditions.The innovation potential and impact of the technology are substantial. Major innovations include: i) significant, up to 40% reduction of the thermal load of food transport refrigeration insulated boxes; ii) the use of solar energy to power on-board refrigeration systems and hybrid electrical and thermal energy storage to eliminate fossil fuel demand for precooling, storage and distribution of fresh produce; iii) adaptable on-board microclimate control and communication system to minimise transpiration losses, increase shelf life and maximise product quality at point of delivery.The project will also investigate and develop appropriate business models and commercialisation strategies tailored to specific local markets to ensure successful product commercialisation and maximum impact.