Solar milk cooling in Tunesia

Publication Type

Contribution to conference

Authors

Torres-Toledo, V; Meissner, K; Salvatierra-Rojas, A; Müller, J

Year of publication

2016

Conference name

International Conference on Solar Technologies & Hybrid Mini Grids to improve energy access

Conference location

Bad Hersfeld

Conference date

21 - 23 September 2016

Keywords

Milch

An on-going research project founded by the GIZ and coordinated by ICARDA (7.2015 - 12.2017) was presented. The project that aims to evaluate social and economical impact of an innovative small-scale solar milk cooling system operating under real farm conditions in rural Tunisia.
The main milestones are reduction of milk post-harvest losses, enhancement of farmers’ productivity, capturing the added-value of milk cooling technology and introduction of an off-grid solution for on-farm milk cooling to save on energy cost. 10 Systems will be tested at 6 farms starting in April 2016. A promising smal-scale solar millk cooling system was designed and tested under laboratory conditions. The use of Ice has great benefits in terms of System efficiency, cooling power and energy storage. The introduction of insulated milk cans with ice compartment give access to a business opportunity based on higher quality and productivity.  
Several ownership models can be implemented to include all actors and promote the technology. First field results and impressions were presented.