Design, development and evaluation of solar powered DC cold box for sustainable supply chain of food and medicine

Gilani, Afnan Ahmed and Butt, Shahid Ikramullah and Jaffery, Syed Husain Imran and Abid, Abdullah and Ali, Sara (2026) Design, development and evaluation of solar powered DC cold box for sustainable supply chain of food and medicine. International Journal of Sustainable Engineering, 19 (1). ISSN 1939-7038

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Abstract

Food waste is still a major worldwide problem, especially in developing countries where poor cold storage infrastructure aggravates post-harvest losses. The design, implementation, and evaluation of a solar-powered DC cold box meant to lower food spoilage and increase the sustainability of food supply chains in off-grid and resource-limited environments is presented in this work. High-efficiency monocrystalline solar panels, IoT-enabled real-time monitoring driven by an ESP32 microcontroller, sophisticated thermal insulation, and a vapour-compression refrigeration system running on R134a are all combined in the cold box. With a battery-backed runtime of up to 42 hours without solar input and strong thermal performance maintaining internal temperatures within ±0.5°C and relative humidity levels of 85–90%, the system was built for portability and energy autonomy. Showing a 35–40% reduction in post-harvest losses and 27% higher energy efficiency than conventional AC-powered systems, field tests validated its dependability and impact. Consistent with world sustainability objectives, the solution proved both financially and environmentally feasible. The study provides a scalable, modular framework for distributing clean-energy cold storage in rural areas and offers a useful blueprint for infrastructure supporting climate-resilient food preservation.

Item Type:	Article
Identification Number:	10.1080/19397038.2026.2619276
Dates:	Date Event 14 January 2026 Accepted 4 February 2026 Published Online
Uncontrolled Keywords:	solar-powered refrigeration, DC cold box, food supply chain, post-harvest loss reduction, cold storage, IoT monitoring, renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, off-grid systems, food preservation
Subjects:	CAH10 - engineering and technology > CAH10-01 - engineering > CAH10-01-01 - engineering (non-specific)
Divisions:	Architecture, Built Environment, Computing and Engineering > Engineering
Depositing User:	Gemma Tonks
Date Deposited:	16 Feb 2026 12:46
Last Modified:	16 Feb 2026 12:46
URI:	https://www.open-access.bcu.ac.uk/id/eprint/16868

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