Solar sorption refrigeration in Africa

Solar sorption refrigeration technologies are regarded as a promising way to meet the growing refrigeration needs in Africa, for thermal comfort, foods and crops, vaccines and medicines conservation. Sorption technologies projects and studies have been reported in Africa since the late 1970s. This paper describes the most representative reported research activities and projects in various African climatic conditions. An emphasis is put on demonstrative plants involving absorption, adsorption or desiccant cooling applications. From this overview, it appears that a lot of achievements have been made, though applications are mainly focused on small-size cold boxes for foods and vaccines preservation; no direct building air conditioning based on adsorption or absorption has been reported. Mediterranean countries seems to offer the best weather conditions for solar sorption refrigeration applications and plenty of related activities could be identified in these countries. A more adequate design for each of other climatic zones in Africa may then be relevant. As anywhere, the high cost of these technologies remains the main the biggest brake to their diffusion in Africa.