Author: PPD Team Date: 14/02/2025
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has released draft guidelines outlining the design, specifications, performance, and testing for solar cold storage systems equipped with thermal energy storage (TES) backup. These systems are primarily powered by solar photovoltaic (PV) energy, with TES providing backup cooling during non-solar hours, ensuring uninterrupted refrigeration for agricultural produce, dairy, fisheries, and pharmaceutical products.
The guidelines define standards for solar cold storage units with capacities of 2 MT, 5 MT, 10 MT, and 20 MT, and temperature ranges from -5°C to 4°C. The cold rooms are insulated with polyurethane foam (PUF) to enhance energy efficiency, while phase change materials (PCM) in the TES system store cooling energy. This setup helps reduce operational costs and extend system life. The systems will reduce reliance on grid electricity and diesel generators while maintaining consistent temperature control. Though primarily off-grid, the systems can be connected to the grid during extended cloudy periods.
To ensure reliable performance, the guidelines include specific requirements for the systems. They must provide daily precooling for at least 10% of their total storage capacity for two days, ensuring uninterrupted operation. TES should be capable of maintaining the required temperatures for up to 48 hours without solar or grid power. Solar PV panels must meet efficiency benchmarks and be designed for high durability. The guidelines also include testing protocols that focus on cold storage performance, TES capacity, solar system efficiency, and autonomy under different conditions. These tests will verify cooling efficiency, solar energy generation under various sunlight conditions, and the system’s ability to function independently for two days without external power.
The guidelines aim to help the Ministry of Agriculture and state governments expand renewable energy adoption in the cold storage sector, to reduce post-harvest losses, improve storage conditions, and increase small-scale farmers’ incomes. The initiative provides long-term benefits, including a five-year maintenance guarantee and detailed operation and maintenance manuals that ensure the systems’ effective performance.
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