Study evaluates hybrid solar and wind systems for off-grid cold storage

Researchers from the Durban University of Technology have published a systematic review evaluating solar, wind, and battery hybrid systems designed to power off-grid agricultural cold storage in developing regions. Bioengineer.org reported that the study was published in Frontiers in Energy Research by U. Emezirinwune, M. Babatunde, and A. Olanrewaju. The review establishes a baseline for decentralized farm-level refrigeration systems aimed at tackling agricultural post-harvest food losses. [1]

The research team conducted a synthesis of 109 peer-reviewed investigations published between 2017 and 2025, Bioengineer.org reported. The analyzed studies were drawn from databases including Scopus, Web of Science Core Collection, ScienceDirect, and IEEE Xplore. The authors focused on the techno-economic optimization of these hybrid configurations to maintain thermal control for perishable agricultural goods. [1]

A cold chain uses continuous refrigeration to preserve temperature-sensitive goods, such as fresh agricultural produce and pharmaceuticals, from production to consumption. Decentralized refrigeration systems aim to maintain product quality in remote areas where access to grid electricity is limited or unavailable. [1][9]

The review highlights growing global interest in hybrid energy deployment for localized uses, which complements other recent developments in renewable infrastructure. For example, as FTMQ Climate reported earlier, developers have proposed a project combining 500 megawatts of wind power, 500 megawatts of solar power, and a 4,000 megawatt-hour battery system in Oregon. [1][11]