Solar Photovoltaic Powered Cooling System for Potato Storage: Design, fabrication and performance evaluation of stand alone PV system powered cold storage plant

Energy is a vital input for sustainable development and economic growth of any country. Refrigerated storage for fruits and vegetables is not available in rural or remote locations due to acute shortage of grid electricity in these areas. So, without having a conventional energy source at these areas, the existence of vapour compression refrigerators connected to photovoltaic panels could present a possible solution to this problem. The study was planned in the following sequential manner. Installation of solar photovoltaic panel, and evaluate its performance. Fabrication of an experimental storage structure. Design, fabrication and evaluation of an experimental unit representing the vapour compression cooling. Economic evaluation of stand alone SPV powered cold storage plant. The power output of the panel was measured under no-load, on-load, with and without recirculation of air inside cold store. The maintained conditions by the designed systems can sustain potato tubers in their most edible and marketable conditions. The PV system is highly competitive with the conventional grid electricity generation.