Techno- economic analysis of various technology options for rural cold storage in India
Student name: Mr Dubagunta Venkata Pradeepkumar
Guide: Dr Priyanka Kaushal
Year of completion: 2012
Host Organisation: Research Technology Innovation Centre, Thermax Limited Pune, Maharashtra
Supervisor (Host Organisation): Mr Devdatta Navale
Abstract: This is a study on the various renewable energy technology options for operating a cold storage
efficiently and cost effectively. This helps the farmer community and India as a whole to reduce the
post harvest losses particularly fruits and vegetables. During the process, I understood the complete
supply chain of the produce in the state of Maharashtra and issues being faced by farmers in
marketing their produce.
Cold storage is a better option in storing the fresh produce immediately after the harvest
season. Sometimes there might be the situation of glut and under-pricing of produce in the market
which may lead to reduced returns to the farmer. At these times, they can store their produce in cold
storages near their farms instead of selling at unremunerative prices. But the power supply is erratic
in the rural India still making cold storages difficult to operate which require uninterrupted power
supply.
In this analysis, comparison is made between the various renewable energy based technology
options for a particular location, in this case Pune which is a hub for agriculture market and
production. All the renewable technologies are location specific depending on availability of its
resources. Out of all the technology options analyzed, biomass gasifier (Coupled to gas engine) with
vapour compression system was found as better option to consider provided the biomass resources
are always made available. Cooling Generation Cost (CGC) of this combination has been found
lowest in this analysis.
But all of these technologies are highly location specific and require good level of resource
assessment and locating this cold storage strategically advantage position to the farmer. Getting this
kind of solutions into the market will need a great push from all stake holders of the society. This is
just an approximate study and other issues too have been highlighted.
Key words: Cold storage, cooling generation cost, Techno-economic analysis, solar thermal, Biomass
gasifier
