3,000 Units Strong: EESL's Cold Storage Vision for India.

Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL) is addressing India's significant post-harvest losses—estimated at nearly ₹61,000 crore—by deploying portable, solar-powered micro cold storage units. These mobile units, with a 3–5 tonne capacity, provide short-term cooling solutions to farmers, helping reduce waste and distress sales.

Unlike conventional cold storage facilities, which face low adoption rates, EESL’s transportable units can be relocated as needed. They utilize solar energy for cooling, with phase-changing chemicals ensuring night-time temperature control.

EESL is launching six pilot units, starting with three—two in Andhra Pradesh and one in Himachal Pradesh. The company aims to scale up to 3,000 units nationwide.

Operating under a "cooling as a service" model, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) will pay a fee per kilogram per day for storage. The pilot is funded by a $120 million grant from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), with EESL aiming to make the model commercially viable.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.