Solar for food storage that protects your cold chain
Protect your cold chain and production line from loadshedding-related stock loss with battery backup sized to your refrigeration load. A prolonged power interruption can put refrigerated stock and production at risk, with the potential cost extending beyond the value of the stock itself.
Bigfisch Projects designs solar and battery systems for food producers and FMCG operations where cold chain and production continuity are directly tied to revenue. Battery storage sized to your refrigeration load keeps the equipment that cannot stop protected through every outage.
Can solar and battery storage keep cold storage running during an outage?
Battery capacity is sized to your refrigeration load specifically. Battery capacity, inverter capability, load requirements and the expected outage duration all need to be considered during system design.
A 644kWp solar installation already powers a maize meal and food production facility in South Africa, a system sized for exactly this kind of continuous, cold-chain dependent production.
Why food producers choose battery backup sized to refrigeration load
- Sized to your refrigeration and processing load specifically, not a generic percentage of total site demand.
- Protects stock value, labour already invested and retail relationships, not just the power bill.
- Works alongside an existing diesel generator, cutting fuel cost and wear without replacing it outright.
Why cold chain cannot wait for a power interruption
Refrigeration and cold storage are among the least forgiving loads on any site.
Research into African cold-chain operations has identified power interruption as a business-continuity risk, with refrigeration equipment wear, increased maintenance costs, spoilage and delivery delays all creating potential commercial losses.
A gap of a few hours can mean spoiled stock, and the cost is immediate and measurable. Not theoretical. That single gap can cost you the stock value itself, the labour already invested in that batch, and the retail relationship if a delivery is missed.
Solar and battery sized to your refrigeration load
We size battery storage around your refrigeration and processing loads specifically, so the equipment that cannot stop is the equipment that stays protected through an outage.
South African research into off-grid solar-powered cold storage has also examined the relationship between solar generation, ambient conditions, system positioning and battery-storage requirements, reinforcing the need for site-specific system design.
Calculating the real cost of a stock loss
A spoilage event is not just the stock value lost; it includes reputational cost with retail buyers and the labour already invested in that batch. Once that number is calculated honestly, the case for battery backup on refrigeration load is usually straightforward.
Solar and Diesel together: Continuity without full diesel dependency
Many food production sites already run a backup generator. Solar and battery storage can carry day-to-day continuity and reduce fuel cost and generator wear, while diesel remains available as a final layer for extended outages.
SSEG registration and municipal grid compliance are handled by Bigfisch as part of the project.
Proven in Southern African food production
Our 644kWp solar installation powers a maize meal and food production facility, a real-world system sized for exactly this kind of continuous, cold-chain dependent production.
Bigfisch is a professional, accredited solar installer, and cash purchase, asset finance and lease-based options can all be structured around your operation's cash flow.
Request a Food Production Solar Proposal
Frequently Asked Questions
Can solar and battery storage keep cold storage running during an outage?
They can, when the system is correctly sized for the refrigeration and critical loads that need to remain operational. Battery capacity is sized to your refrigeration load specifically. This is one of the most common systems we design.
How much does a loadshedding-related stock loss actually cost?
It varies by product and batch size, but includes the stock value, the labour already invested, and any retail or supply agreement penalties. We can help you work through this as part of a feasibility study.
Can solar reduce our reliance on a backup diesel generator?
In most cases, yes, for day-to-day continuity, while keeping diesel available as a final backup layer for extended outages.
Do you have proof this works for a Southern African food production site?
Yes, our 644kWp solar installation powers a maize meal and food production facility, sized specifically for continuous, cold-chain dependent production.
What is the first step to protecting my site from loadshedding-related stock loss?
Book a free site assessment so we can size battery storage to your specific refrigeration and processing loads.