In the scorching climate of sub-Saharan Africa, it’s nearly impossible to keep food or milk fresh without a refrigerator. Unfortunately, a fridge isn’t even an option in a region where roughly 600 million people live off the grid.
In some Asian countries, such as Thailand, people who can’t afford a fridge use a cooler as a refrigerator instead, but they have to refill it with ice daily. That means there still needs to be electricity somewhere nearby for the ice factory to produce ice.
A Brazilian company called Youmma has developed a solution for the African people, particularly small business owners – a pay-as-you-go solar-powered fridge.
The fridge helps to:
- Reduce food waste
- Prevent food poisoning
- Keep products fresh for longer
- Store medication safety
According to Nidec Global Appliance, which owns Youmma, the cooling system of the 100-liter fridge consumes 25% of the energy of a standard fridge. It was designed specifically for off-grid use, which means it can be powered by a smaller solar panel with a smaller battery, cutting down on costs. Even without sunlight, the battery can keep the fridge running for a day and a half. Read more…
