TECHNO-ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF VARIOUS TECHNOLOGY OPTIONS FOR RURAL COLD STORAGE IN INDIA

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. 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 Keywords: Cold storage, cooling generation cost, Techno-economic analysis, solar thermal, Biomass gasifier