GreenCHILL Refrigeration System
Hoskote (Karnataka), India.
GreenCHILL Refrigeration System.
In this pilot, Indian innovator New Leaf Dynamic Technologies partnered with the country’s largest online grocery, BigBasket, to field test a GreenCHILL refrigeration system that uses a natural refrigerant with zero greenhouse gas emissions. Pelletized cashew nut shells and waste husks from a BigBasket coconut processing factory provided biomass fuel for the GreenCHILL unit.
Innovator
New Leaf Dynamic Technologies
Adopter
BigBasket
BigBasket is India’s largest online food grocery seller, offering services in more than 20 cities in India.
Results
- The use of fossil-fuel based electricity plunged by 90 percent.
- Operating costs fell almost 20 percent for the GreenChill cold rooms versus conventional systems.
- New Leaf is implementing steps that will reduce the payback time for GreenChill, which currently stands at just over six years.
Lessons Learned
- Apart from product performance, fuel linkages (preparation, fuel flexibility, and long-term supply contracts with predictable costs) are key aspects to scaling of biomass-based distributed cooling systems.
Gallery
Prateek R monitors gauges on GreenChill technology
GreenChill cool towers are seen inside a Big Basket distribution centre in Hoskote, on the outskirts of Bengaluru, India, Wednesday, 11 August, 2021.
Packing fruits at BigBasket distribution center in Hoskote
Employees chop vegetables inside a Big Basket distribution centre in Hoskote, on the outskirts of Bengaluru, India, Wednesday, 11 August, 2021.
What our partners say?
“This pilot cut electricity use at our distribution center by 90 percent and now we have the technical backend to expand to locations where the grid is very weak. Supported by the IFC TechEmerge program, in partnership with the UK government, we are reducing food wastage, improving farmer livelihoods, and contributing to the India Cooling Action Plan (ICAP).”
Hari Menon, CEO and Co-Founder of BigBasket
Adopter in: TechEmerge Sustainable Cooling Retail Cold Chains South Asia
“Plans are underway for mass production, as we expect E-retailers and business customers will increasingly adopt distributed cooling solutions to meet their cooling needs, reduce operating costs while fulfilling corporate environmental sustainability commitments.”
“Supported by the IFC TechEmerge Program, this unique modular cold rack innovation improved our energy efficiency and cut operational costs by 16 percent. We plan to scale this solution across our pan-India operations.”
Ganapathi Subramanyam, Head of Innovation
Adopter in: TechEmerge Sustainable Cooling Retail Cold Chains South Asia
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