Pico Hydro Based Cold Storage

Demonstration of Pico Hydro Based Cold Storage at Selected Site

Himalayan regions and mountain areas of the country are endowed with natural waterfalls, streams and rivers flowing down the hills. These water resources can provide ample opportunities for electricity production that can help to develop infrastructural facilities, and to earn new and additional livelihoods for the local people and improve their economy. Even small sized hydropower plants in the form of Pico hydropower are likely to be highly beneficial for energizing chain of cold storage units to preserve vegetables and fruits. The integration of micro hydro power with cold storage is considered as an economically viable and feasible technology option for such areas. A low-cost cold storage unit, integrated with pico hydropower developed by RuTAG IIT Roorkee for preserving fruits and vegetables for long duration was installed at Barni village Naugaon District Uttarkashi Uttarakhand.

Salient Feature of the Pico Hydro Power Based Cold Storage

5 kW integrated pico-hydro power based cold storage system for field application for the preservation of fruits and vegetables.

Surplus power will be utilized in the local cottage industry and lightning load.

Improving the living conditions of the people residing in villages.

Generating new opportunities for overall upliftment.

Creating awareness about the renewable sources of energy and using these for entrepreneurship like micro cottage industries etc. thereby improving economic conditions.

Dissemination Potential- fruits and vegetables producers.
Tentative Cost of the Unit- 8-10 Lakh
Demand Driven Technology- To provide a sustainable solution for low-cost storage units, an integrated pico hydropower (5 kW) energized cold storage unit of 1.5 tons or higher capacity has been designed and developed by RuTAG, IIT Roorkee. The 1.5 tons capacity cold storage consumes 1.5-2.0 kW power while the surplus power is utilized locally for lighting and other livelihood purposes for improving economy of the area. Additional sources of income from pico hydropower system help to recover the cost of the plant in a minimum time period.
Collaborated NGO- Devran Gahati Agro Producer Co. Uttarkashi Uttarakhand

Impact of Technology
People can preserve their fruits and vegetables. They can sell their vegetables at higher prices during the off season. Excess power can be used to run the local cottage industry. During the off-season electricity can be used for Lighting.
NGO- Dev Rana Ghati Agro Producers has adopted this technology for the use

Feedback from the Users
Cold storage unit is extremely useful to preserve their vegetables and fruits and cold storage is serving its purpose well- Jayendra Singh Rana (Chairman, NGO Dev Rana Ghati Agro Producer)