Boost for solar refrigeration in India

The UK based renewable energy firm Dulas has launched a joint venture with Indian solar company Sunintown to supply its solar powered refrigerators across the Indian sub-continent.

The agreement will see Sunintown exploit its size and scale as a solar developer to provide market access for Dulas to deploy its solar powered refrigerators in the extensive Indian market for free standing cooling devices, which are used extensively in the delivery of local medical services.

As India moves away from current Global Vaccine Alliance (GAVI) support in 2017, with the aim of self-funding its own domestic vaccination programme by 2021, there is an urgent need for cold chain storage solutions for medicines and antibiotics across the continent. According to figures from GAVI, India still sees an infant mortality rate of 38/1000. GAVI’s Global Vaccine Action Plan, launched in 2011, is aiming to provide 90% vaccine coverage by 2020 in areas where vaccination needs are currently falling short.