Idjwi Island Cold Chain Catalyst

EP’s project will for the first time in the DRC place offgrid specific appliances along a strategically identified cold chain anchored by a vertically integrated industrial hub. The ice making will be powered by solar hybrid generation and coupled with an M&E platform delivering base case user data. The data aims to show how refrigeration appliances placed along a fully integrated Paygo, smartmeter connected minigrid supports both the growth of island industrial capacity as well as consumer services and quality of life initiatives. EP agrees with E4A's publications in that cold chain is a vital, yet very untested intervention up to date. EP believes this proposal not only tests ice making based cold chain, but industrialization, distribution, community cold chain as a service chest freezing, and the financing of HH/SME efficient refrigeration appliances. While “cooling as a service” cold chain concepts are unquestionably an exciting concept that EP has centered its energy access approach around, there is still very little research and even fewer test cases on larger ice based chains in the developing world. EP’s project will show the immense innovation that comes from optimization of industrial ice(the hub) operations and distribution centers(spoke) that serve larger numbers of users and are flexible to their evolving needs entrepreneurial and approaches. EP will possess the ability to control the hub asset for maximum efficiency in adjusting to the power and ice needs of the island.