Solar-Powered Cold Storage Unit Inaugurated at Nauni varsity

A step forward in sustainable post-harvest management and agroecology

Solan, April 11: Nauni-In a significant move towards integrating renewable energy with agricultural infrastructure, a solar-powered modular cold storage unit was inaugurated today at the Department of Food Science and Technology, Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni.

The facility was inaugurated by Prof. Rajeshwar Singh Chandel, Vice-Chancellor of the University, and developed in collaboration with the Global Programme on Sustainable Agricultural Systems and Policies (AgSys), GIZ India. The installation and commissioning were carried out by Cool Crops Pvt. Ltd., with technical and scientific inputs from university researchers. The event was attended by a delegation from AgSys, led by Kaethe Brakhan, Project Director, AgSys.

Designed to support year-round, multi-crop storage based on crop compatibility, the modular cold storage unit is both user-friendly and economically sustainable. With a total capacity of 12 metric tonnes across three independent chambers, the facility offers multiple power backup options with Solar energy being the primary source. It also has a thermal backup: 2–3 hours via phase change material and Battery backup of 5–6 hours via lithium-ion battery. The option of grid connectivity has also been provided for usage during monsoon or low-sunlight conditions.

Each chamber is individually temperature and relative humidity controlled and equipped with AI-enabled remote data monitoring.

Supporting Innovation in Mountain Agriculture

Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Chandel extended his gratitude to the GIZ team for their ongoing support and partnership. He emphasized that such infrastructure can play a vital role in reducing post-harvest losses, especially in hilly terrains where storage and transportation remain major challenges. He also highlighted the importance of further collaboration in areas like agroecology and sustainable farming systems.

Earlier, Dr. Sanjeev Chauhan, Director of Research, welcomed the GIZ delegation and shared insights into the various collaborative projects undertaken by the University and GIZ.

During the event, Kaethe Brakhan elaborated on the objectives of the AgSys programme, which aims to enhance policy frameworks for sustainable agricultural transformation and scale up proven field innovations. Shashi Kumar, Team Leader Apple Value Chain spoke about the role of the Green Innovation Centre in advancing the apple value chain, while Dr. Rakesh Sharma, HOD Food Science and Technology expressed appreciation for incorporating the university’s scientific recommendations in the development of the cold storage unit.

The ceremony was attended by Isabel Renner, Anna Hennecke, Elisa Romanato, Regina Sanchez (GIC Project Director, India), Umesh Kumar, Srinivas from Cool Crops Pvt. Ltd., along with statutory officers and faculty members from the Department of Food Science and Technology.