Cooling-as-a-service model with sustainable cold rooms in Kenya

A partnership between Phaesun GmbH and WeHub Victoria Limited (WeTu) deployed two solar-powered 'SelfChill' cold rooms in Kenya to reduce post-harvest losses for small farmers. The first unit in Mbita, operational since January 2024, saw monthly occupancy growth of 7% to 14%, eventually reaching 85% occupancy on several days by the ninth month. The project observed a shift in user behavior from storing small quantities of unsold produce to traders buying larger volumes (6 to 12 crates) for daily sale, leading the team to target wholesalers for the second unit in Homabay.

• The solar-powered cold room in Mbita, installed in January 2024, demonstrated a positive growth trend in usage, with monthly occupancy increasing by 7% to 14% following awareness campaigns. By the ninth month of operation, the facility achieved an occupancy rate of 85% for more than four days.
• User behavior evolved from using the cold room for small amounts of unsold perishable leafy vegetables (one or two crates) to a more profitable model where traders purchase larger quantities (6 to 12 crates) for daily distribution to customers.
• Based on the Mbita results, the project is implementing a modified Cooling-as-a-service model for a second cold room in Homabay, which began operation in February 2025 and specifically targets wholesalers of valuable crops.

APA

Ng, L. (2025). Cooling-as-a-service model with sustainable cold rooms in Kenya. Alliance for Renewable Electrification. https://renewelec.org/cooling-as-a-service-model-with-sustainable-cold-rooms-in-kenya/

Chicago

Ng, Ling. Cooling-as-a-service model with sustainable cold rooms in Kenya. Alliance for Renewable Electrification, 2025. https://renewelec.org/cooling-as-a-service-model-with-sustainable-cold-rooms-in-kenya/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Ng |first1=Ling |title=Cooling-as-a-service model with sustainable cold rooms in Kenya |publisher=Alliance for Renewable Electrification |date=18 February 2025 |url=https://renewelec.org/cooling-as-a-service-model-with-sustainable-cold-rooms-in-kenya/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{ng2025coolingasaservice, author = {Ng, Ling}, title = {{Cooling-as-a-service model with sustainable cold rooms in Kenya}}, institution = {Alliance for Renewable Electrification}, year = {2025}, month = feb, url = {https://renewelec.org/cooling-as-a-service-model-with-sustainable-cold-rooms-in-kenya/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }