K-CEP Clean Cooling in the Pacific

Name of applicant: Palau Energy Administration
Project duration: 09/2019 - 12/2021

This demonstration project aims to raise awareness of energy efficiency and energy conservation in the context of climate change and sustainable development and to demonstrate the practicality of an on-bill financing scheme for energy efficient air-conditioners with climate-friendly refrigerant in public sector buildings in Palau.

The target technologies promoted in the demonstration project consist of energy efficiency inverter RACs with R32 refrigerant. Although this type of RACs is commercially viable and reliable in other regions, it has not achieved popular success and acceptance in Palau. Inverter RACs with R32 are not available off the shelf in Palau. The main American and Asian brands of RACs are available in Palau, however, virtually all inverter RACs come from China with R410A refrigerant. R32 Refrigerants has a depletion potential of zero, and the refrigerant has only approximately 1/3 of the GWP of R-410A refrigerant. The use of R32 reduces the amount of GWP in Palau.

This demonstration will pilot the on-bill financing scheme for energy efficient RACs and also support development of the financial mechanism for cooling efficiency in the hotel sector, being implemented by K-CEP. The demonstration will supplement the National Development Bank of Palau (NDBP) - EE housing loan to include cooling efficiency systems. For the Environmental Quality Protection Board (EQPB), the demo RACs with climate-friendly refrigerants will be introduced as a stepping stone for a clearer path of saving energy with friendly environmental refrigerant in Palau.

The target beneficiaries for this project are government agencies that provide services to the local populations in Palau. Specifically, the beneficiaries are schools in Koror State where most of the educational institutions in Palau are located as well as government buildings that provide services to the communities.

Remark:  SAN FRANCISCO - August 24, 2021 – ClimateWorks Foundation announced that the Kigali Cooling Efficiency Program (K-CEP) has changed its name to the Clean Cooling Collaborative.

Related Article:

Approval of Financing Program for Sustainable Cooling in Palau

 It should be noted that the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the overall progress of project implementation. Despite multiple challenges and implementation issues, the Cooling Demo Project has been able to collaborate with the sub-grantees and suppliers to complete delivery and/or installation of energy efficient and clean cooling technologies, as follows.

Palau - Demonstration of On-bill Financing Scheme for Energy Efficient Air-Conditioners

R32 RACs at PNOC Building (Left) and EQPB Office (Right)

The pilot project agreement was signed by PEA in August 2019. Two Buildings (i.e., Palau National Olympic Committee - PNOC Building, and Environmental Quality Protection Board - EQPB Office) were selected by PEA as the two demonstration sites for energy efficient inverter RACs with R32 refrigerant. The measurement of operating hours and compilation of monthly electricity bills were conducted before the replacement of RACs. Note that Palau uses a 60 Hz power supply system which is similar to the US and locating RAC suppliers in Asia and the Pacific who are willing to deliver a small quantity of 60Hz R32 inverter RACs to Palau has proven to be a highly challenging task, since most of R32 RAC models available in Asia and the Pacific are 50 Hz models.

Following coordination with potential local suppliers in Palau, and international suppliers in China, Guam, the Philippines (where 60 Hz power supplies are also used.), and Thailand, PEA and IIEC identified one RAC regional supplier in Guam with a local agent in Palau agreed to supply R32 inverter RACs for this pilot demonstration project. Based on the RAC unit costs proposed by the selected supplier, seven RAC units in PNOC building and EQPB office were identified for EE RAC retrofits (see Table below).

Number of Existing RACs identified for R32 Inverter RAC Retrofit

In February 2020, an order of seven units of Toshiba Carrier 60Hz inverter AC with R32 was confirmed with the supplier. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, delivery of the RAC units had been delayed. The shipment arrived Palau in June 2020, and the installation works began and completed in August 2020. At the time of the RAC installation, PNOC Building was under renovation, and the supplier had to relocate some RAC units to new installation areas. The length of the standard copper piping kit with insulation was not sufficient for these relocations, and IIEC decided to utilize the available fund to cover the additional cost of the extra copper pipes. Key stakeholders and milestones of this pilot demonstration project are shown in Table below. 

Papua New Guinea - Efficient & Clean Cooling Project

RAC Installation at Wellness Lodge

Goans Engineering and Consultancy Ltd. (GECL) signed an agreement for implementation of this pilot demonstration in August 2019. Despite the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic in PNG, GELC managed to approach multiple commercial establishments in PNG, and discussed the approach of the pilot demonstration project. Following discussion with owners and management of these commercial establishment, Wellness Lodge, located in East Boroko, Port Moresby, agreed to participate in the pilot demonstration project. With assistance from an electrician employed at the lodge, the GECL audit team conducted the energy audit from May 25th to 26th, 2020. The audit focused essentially on identifying energy and cost saving opportunities to raise the energy efficiency and performance of the lodge.

After the energy audit, sixteen units of R32 inverter RACs with rated cooling capacities of about 9,000 BTU/hr and 12,000 BTU/hr were procured from Daikin PNG. Noted that these R32 inverter RACs were not the standard models imported by Daikin PNG, and a special order was made by Daikin PNG with a purchase order from GECL. The R32 inverter RAC units were delivered to Port Moresby, PNG, in late November 2020. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Christmas holidays, the installation of the 16 units RAC was delayed and completed in January 2021.

An energy data logger was installed at the main power supply to capture power demand and monitor building energy consumption from December 28th, 2020 to February 3rd, 2021. The data logger aimed at recording power demand and energy consumption before and after installation of the new energy efficient R32 inverter ACs, and the measurement results were analyzed to determine savings from energy efficient and climate-friendly ACs.

Key stakeholders and milestones of the pilot demonstration project in PNG are shown in Table below.

Solomon Islands - Demonstration of Sheltering Effect on AC Operational Efficiency

The Solomon Islands Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Association (SIRAC) signed an agreement in July 2019, and the design of the outdoor unit shelter kit consisting of shade mesh sun filter, aluminium flat bar, screws and cable tie was proposed. The design is very easy for technicians to install and remove since the flat bar will be mounted on the original screws at the edges of the outdoor units. Following the initial trial, the shelter kit may be further improved in design for better results. The shelter kits were fabricated (see photo below) and attached to existing R22 fixed speed RACs and new R32 inverter RACs to compare the energy savings impact results. Two new R32 inverter RACs were procured by SIRAC with funding from the Cooling Demo Project. Installation of the two new R32 inverter RACs is completed October 2019.

Fabrication and Installation of Shelter Kits for Condensing Units in Solomon Islands

Key stakeholders and milestones of the pilot demonstration project in Solomon Islands are shown in Table below.

Vanuatu - Demonstration of Cold Storage for Preservation of Produce for Local Farmers

IIEC supported DEPC in coordination with potential suppliers of off-grid cold storage in Africa, Australia, India, the UK and the USA. Discussion with various potential suppliers reveals that many potential suppliers still rely on compressor technologies with high GWP refrigerants. Although a unit with low GWP refrigerant can be ordered, the unit cost is higher than the standard models, and the cost apparently exceeds the available budget. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 further complicated the supplier identification process, and IIEC and DEPC spent the entire year of 2020 to compile all relevant technical specifications and costs of potential off-grid solar cold storage technologies.

Following the long coordination with the potential suppliers, IIEC and DEPC received five quotations of solar/hybrid cold storage technologies, i.e., Aldelano (USA), Black Stump Technologies (Australia), Cold Hubs (Nigeria), Ecofrost (India), and Inviro Choice (UK). However, only Black Stump, Cold Hubs and Inviro Choice (UK) are able meet the technical requirement of low GWP refrigerant. In terms of the unit costs, all the proposed unit costs including installation services exceed the available budget. However, IIEC and DEPC were able to negotiate with Black Stump Technologies, based in Melbourne, Australia, to deliver a refurbished unit with new compressor with low GWP refrigerant, solar PV panel and batteries within the available budget.

IIEC confirmed the order for the off-grid solar cold storage in February 2021, and the refurbishment process was completed and ready to ship out in July 2021. It was agreed during the price negotiation with Black Stump Technologies that shipment of the off-grid solar cold storage unit from Melbourne, Australia, to Port Vila, Vanuatu, will be responsible by DARD. The overall shipment process was delayed for a few months due to the ongoing lock down measure in Melbourne, the special requirements to place the off-grid solar cold storage unit on top of all containers to prevent damage of solar PV panels, and approval of the payment of the shipment cost by the Government of Vanuatu to the shipping agent.

The shipment from Melbourne to Port Vila was proceeded in October 2021, and the unit was delivered to Port Vila in late November 2021 (see the photos below). DEPC and DARD plan to move the off-grid solar cold storage unit to the installation and begin operation of the unit by 2022.

Off-Grid Solar Cold Storage Unit offered by Black Stump Technologies, Australia

Off-Grid Solar Cold Storage Unit with Expanded Solar PV Panels

Off-Grid Solar Cold Storage Unit in Transition to the Installation Site in Vanuatu

Key stakeholders and milestones of the off-grid solar cold storage unit in Vanuatu are shown in Table below.

Vanuatu - Efficient and Clean Refrigeration for Small Banana Boats

Tuff Boats Limited signed an agreement in July 2019. Note that the initial design concept of using a refrigerator/freezer compressor designed for household applications for the 7-meter long boat is not technically feasible because the compressor designed for non-marine applications may not be able to withstand vibration on the boat and leakage of refrigerant is highly possible. Considering this, Tuff Boats Limited ordered a compressor for marine applications from a supplier in Australia. Construction of the prototype boats with solar PV panel and solar charge controller was completed in July 2020 (see photo below).

Prototype Boat with Solar PV and Charge Controller

A Prototype Boat with Solar PV and Charge ControllerA prototype of solar freezer boat was completed in September 2020 (see photos below). However, Tuff Boat could only procure the compressor units for marine applications with R134a refrigerant which has 1,430 GWP. Following the discussion with the Clean Cooling Collaborative, it was agreed that development of the solar freezer boat prototype could be continued by Tuff Boat. However, the project grant cannot cover the cost of a compressor with high GWP refrigerant R134a.

Boat with Solar PV and Freezer

Evaporator Coil in Freezer on Solar Boat

Key stakeholders and milestones of the solar freezer boat project in Vanuatu are shown in Table below.

Name of applicant: Solomon Islands Refrigeration and Air conditioning Association (SIRAC)
Project duration: 06/2019 - 12/2021

The project's design is to improve split air conditioning cooling efficiency and reduce its power consumption. The high electricity rate here in Honiara, Solomon Islands, gives hefty electricity bills to end-users in the buildings. As can be seen, the Solomon Islands ranked among the top highest electricity rate compare to other pacific islands countries. The hot and high humidity in Honiara contributes to the need for air conditioners for large organizations like government offices, private sectors and business houses as they are very essential for human comfort and conditioning of equipment. According to Ministry of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification, the two biggest importing electrical appliances into the Solomon Islands are refrigerators and air conditioners. They have a very big impact as far as the electricity bill is a concern.

The demonstration project is geared to perform energy savings and improve efficiency to existing split air conditioning existed in buildings in Honiara. The reduction of power consumption will obviously reduce the burning of fossil fuels which is the only means of power supply generation in Honiara. Burning of fossil fuels to release carbon dioxide (Greenhouse Gases) contributes to global warming.

Moreover, it will greatly assist the energy section in the government ministry to adapt or design policies that reflect national and global concerns regarding energy standard uses of electrical appliances and the use of low Global Warming Potential (GWP) refrigerants. Solomon Islands is a member of Pacific Appliance Labelling Standard (PALS) that currently in the initial stage in working at developing policies that specifically concern with all electrical appliances importation with regards to their efficiencies and labeling. The development of policies from this pilot project will certainly determine the standards that will impose on the importation of split air conditioners with regards to type and the refrigerant.

The main target of this cooling demo project is focusing mainly on government and tertiary institutions (Solomon Islands National University) for a start where they have a huge number of split air conditioners. Then it could spread on to other sectors and organizations depending on the success of this project. This project’s primary locations will be located at National Medical Stores (Government) and the other two locations at the School of Fisheries and Marine Studies (Solomon Islands National University), SINU.

The Kigali Cooling Efficiency Program (K-CEP) has announced the grantees awarded in the demonstration of innovative efficient and clean cooling technologies or business models in the Pacific as follows.

Remark:  SAN FRANCISCO - August 24, 2021 – ClimateWorks Foundation announced that the Kigali Cooling Efficiency Program (K-CEP) has changed its name to the Clean Cooling Collaborative.

Name of applicant: Tuff Boats Limited
Project duration: 07/2019 - 12/2021

The aim of this project is to provide mobile cooling systems both as freezers and fridges on small 7mtr longboats. As marine transport is mainly undertaken through the islands by a large percentage of the population using this style of the boat it would be a world first to endeavour to make a refrigeration system like this.

This project will benefit a large cross-section of the rural population of Vanuatu who lives outside the two urban areas mainly in the transport of food and medicines. The anticipation is that this technology will improve access to better quality foods and medicines in all rural areas of Vanuatu. Refrigeration is a contributing factor to growth and development both socially and economically. This is even more important in a developing nation such as Vanuatu.

This FAQs sectionprovides guidance on how to complete the Application Form for grant and technical assistance available from the Cooling Demo Project. Interested applicants are advised to download "Guidelines for Submission of Proposals for Grant and Technical Assistance", and review all relevant information before directing any queries to the Cooling Demo Project (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

Please see the figure below about steps to submit a proposal.

Remark:  SAN FRANCISCO - August 24, 2021 – ClimateWorks Foundation announced that the Kigali Cooling Efficiency Program (K-CEP) has changed its name to the Clean Cooling Collaborative.

Name of applicant: Goans Engineering & Consultancy Ltd.
Project duration: 06/2019 - 12/2021

The main objective of the PNG Efficient & Clean Cooling Project is to: a) Promote installation of EE R32 Inverter RACs and the PAYS model in commercial establishments, small-medium industrial sectors, and government institutions; b) Showcase the benefit realization particularly in terms of energy cost savings irrespective of high initial investment cost; and c) Drive the policy intervention of efficient & clean cooling technologies in Papua New Guinea and the surrounding Pacific Islands.

There are more than 22,000 of such establishments that rely heavily on the cooling systems during the afternoon peak periods on every working day due to the country’s tropical climate resulting in very high energy consumptions. These establishments commonly use the conventional split-type RAC units with cooling capacity from 9,000 – 24,000 BTU/hr with R22 & R410A refrigerants.

This project aims to remove the barriers through demonstration of R32 Inverter room air-conditioners (RAC) in commercial establishments, small-medium industrial sectors, and government institutions which are the high-end energy users in the country and directly contribute to the system peak demand during normal business hours. In addition, it aims to demonstrate the energy saving benefits of EE air-conditioners through a PAY-AS-YOU-SAVE (PAYS) model which will mitigate barriers pertaining to initial investment costs and enhance knowledge to promote greater adoption of efficient and clean cooling which is rarely practiced in the business as usual cases in PNG.

The end-users range from commercial establishments, SME Industries, and government institutions. It is expected that the target beneficiaries will be commercial high rise buildings & complexes within the coastal regions where RAC units are predominantly necessary and are extensively used.

The Demonstration of Innovative Technology and Business Models for Efficient and Clean Cooling in the Pacific project (Cooling Demo Project), funded by the Kigali Cooling Efficiency Program (K-CEP) is seeking high quality proposals to support demonstration of innovative efficient and clean cooling technologies and business models in the Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs).

Such demonstrations must include actual installation and operation of efficient and clean cooling technologies, or adoption of business models, and meet the requirements outlined in this Guideline. The Cooling Demo Project provides financial support and technical assistance to these demonstrations to mitigate barriers pertaining to initial investment costs and knowledge which constraint greater adoption of efficient and clean cooling in the Pacific.

Proposal Submission Deadline 
Proposals for grant and technical assistance for Cooling Demo Projects are due on Tuesday, April 30th, 2019, by 6pm, U.S. Pacific time (GMT -7). **Deadline has been EXTENDED to May 12th, 2019**.  IIEC may issue another call for proposals after reviewing the submitted proposals depending on various factors including the number and strength of proposed demonstration activities.

Eligible Applicants

• Government agencies, authorities, private companies and NGOs are eligible to apply for the financial and technical assistance available from the Cooling Demo Project.
• Applicants can partner with other organizations to meet human resource requirements, technical capacity and financial capacity to implement the proposed project.
• The applicant, or one of the applicant’s partners, must have a registered office in one of PICTs. Collaboration among PICTs and between PICTs and other countries is considered as the key advantage of the proposal.

Note that an applicant can be a lead applicant in only one (1) proposal, however a lead applicant of one proposal can also join an unlimited number of other proposals as a partner. If an applicant submits more than one proposal as a lead applicant, all proposals submitted by this applicant will be disqualified.

Type of Project Activity

The Cooling Demo Project will focus on installation, commissioning and operation of innovative efficient and clean cooling technologies, as well as adoption of business models that facilitate the use of such technology. The proposed demonstration should help enhance local knowledge and experience, prove the cost effectiveness of these technologies in saving energy and operating costs, help inform policy, financing and other supporting mechanisms to address market barriers (e.g. policy, regulatory, financing, capacity) and subsequently drive market demand which would in turn result in the creation of new efficient and clean cooling businesses and employment opportunities.

Geographical Coverage

The proposed demonstration must be implemented in any one of the following 22 PICTs: American Samoa, the Cook Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Kiribati, the Republic of Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, the Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Pitcairn Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Wallis and Futuna.

Endorsement by National Energy Efficiency and Ozone Unit

Applicants shall inform the national Energy Efficiency and Ozone Units in the respective target countries of implementation about their intention to demonstrate of innovative efficient and clean cooling technologies. Endorsement by the national Energy Efficiency and Ozone Units in writing can be submitted after the pre-screening process of the initial application form.

Technical Focus

The technical focus of innovative and clean cooling technologies and business models must be the refrigerant- and non-refrigerant-based cooling and refrigeration products/systems, including but not necessarily limited to the following technologies:

• Cooling and refrigeration products/systems for agricultural, dairy and meat products;
• Cooling and refrigeration products/systems for medical applications;
• Cooling and refrigeration products/systems for residential, government commercial and industrial facilities.

The above innovative cooling and refrigeration products / systems can either be powered by grid-electricity or stand-alone renewable energy systems or a combination of both. In case a refrigerant-based cooling/refrigeration product/system is proposed, the refrigerant shall be zero or reduced Global warming potential (GWP) refrigerant.

A list of some potential innovative efficient and clean cooling technologies is available on the Cooling Demo Project website (http://iiec.org/coolingdemo-innovative-technologies). The Cooling Demo Project has no specific technical focus for a specific PICT, however applicants must ensure that the proposed demonstrations do not duplicate existing efforts already supported by other donor/international development agencies, but rather generate synergies with the existing ones.

Duration

The implementation period for demonstration activities shall be from 1st June 2019 and completed before 30th April 2021.

Expected project results and impacts on people and environment

Applicants shall describe how the proposed demonstrations contribute to the achievement of the following:

1. Increased government and private sector stakeholders’ awareness and knowledge on efficient and clean cooling technologies and business models;
2. Estimated energy savings and GHG emission reductions;
3. Benefits for livelihoods and employment.

Grant and Technical Assistance Support

• Business matching between international suppliers of innovative efficient and clean cooling technologies and potential partners in PICTs;
• Verifying cost/benefits of demonstration projects; 
• Training (with expected contribution from international suppliers);
• Documenting and marketing lessons learned

Co-financing

Applicants shall demonstrate their in-kind or cash contribution (in USD equivalent) to implementation of the demonstration projects. This is considered as one of the key requirements for eligibility for the project grant support. There is no minimum requirement of the share of co-financing in the total cost of a demonstration project.

Proposal Submission

Each proposal shall be prepared in English based on the application form downloadable from the Cooling Demo Project website (http://iiec.org/coolingdemo), and electronically submitted to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The proposals shall include all relevant information about the demonstration activities and tentative work plan and applicants’ background supported with relevant references (e.g. technical specifications of innovative efficient and clean cooling technologies or descriptions of business models, letter to the government).

Pre-screening Process

Submitted proposals will be pre-screened for completeness and basic eligibility. After the pre-screening process, IIEC will work with each qualified applicant to understand expected impacts of the proposed demonstration, readiness to implement, strategy for scaling up/replication and endorsement by the National Energy Efficiency and Ozone Unit. Once all information and supporting documents are completed, the proposals will be reviewed by the technical evaluation team.

IIEC will respond to any inquiries regarding the proposal preparation and submission before the submission deadline, please contact IIEC at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

For more information, please download Guidelines for Submission of Proposals for Grant and Technical Assistance

Submitting a Proposal

Figure 1 shows the steps to submit a proposal.

Figure 1: Proposal Submission Process

Remark:  SAN FRANCISCO - August 24, 2021 – ClimateWorks Foundation announced that the Kigali Cooling Efficiency Program (K-CEP) has changed its name to the Clean Cooling Collaborative.

Name of applicant: Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD)
Project duration: 09/2019 - 12/2021

The main objective of this demonstration project is to showcase the use of efficient and clean cooling technology that can be used by local market vendors to preserve their fruits and vegetables at a reasonable cost or for exporters of value-added agriculture products to store their large quantities of products before export.

The demonstration project would be the first of its kind to be demonstrated by government departments and for the country using solar power. There are companies who have cold storage rooms such as the abattoirs, butcheries, big supermarkets, and very few food production exporters, however, none of them use solar power.

The Department of Environmental Protection and Conservation (DEPC) and the Department of Energy will partner with the Department of Agriculture & Rural Development to procure and install a portable, solar-powered cold room container. This will be used as storage for fruits and vegetables and value-added products for farmers in Port vila to sell their products domestically or for export. The department of Agriculture has space available to store the container or they can seek the Department of Industry, Port Vila Municipality or the rural government who they work closely with to store at the markets administered by these other government agencies.

The immediate and direct beneficiaries include local market vendors, Departments of Agriculture and Industry, the population of Port vila who buy at the markets, the Tourism industry and Retail outlets who all depend on fresh fruits and vegetables provided by our farmers in Port Vila. There is also a growing no. of small scale value-added agriculture product businesses on the increase in Vanuatu. They may be interested to preserve their products in the process of value-adding. Local municipalities in provinces, as well as hospitals, high schools, colleges, and institutions, can also learn from this demonstration project and apply similar technologies for the preservation of food and reduction of electricity cost. Local businesses can also benefit from the market of efficient and clean cooling technologies demonstrated by this project.