Abstract
India’s food chain faces growing challenges from rising ambient temperatures, energy constraints, and post-harvest losses of nearly 30% for some commodities due to inadequate infrastructure and the absence of standard processes. Despite recent expansion, the cold chain sector remains highly energy-intensive, with limited integration of renewable energy and continued reliance on high-GWP refrigerants. This study evaluates a solar photovoltaics (PV)–powered micro cold room integrated with thermal energy storage (TES) to support during the absence of solar energy, using R290 as refrigerant, and compares its performance with grid-dependent and partially PV-assisted configurations. The R290-based system demonstrates up to 11% lower annual energy consumption compared to R404A systems, with an improved coefficient of performance and a 10% reduction in total equivalent warming impact. PV–TES integration enables grid independence. Large-scale deployment could reduce emissions by up to 9,900 kilotonnes by 2050, supporting food security and climate goals nationally significantly.