A solar-powered cold room is only as reliable as the technician who looks after it. To build those skills, SophiA is launching SOCRATES, the SophiA Online College for Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Thermal Energy Systems. Its first course starts on Tuesday 20 October 2026. Over the past years, SophiA has shown that off-grid, solar-powered cooling…
Around 50 guests from academia, industry, education and the public gathered at the OST campus in Rapperswil on 26 June 2026 to celebrate World Refrigeration Day and explore how sustainable cooling technologies contribute to climate action, resilient healthcare and the energy transition. The event highlighted the impact of the European research project SophiA Project, which…
Why refrigerant choice matters — and what it means for cold chain in underserved communities A May 2026 white paper by Hanon Systems (a Hankook Company) sheds new light on a growing environmental and public health concern: the refrigerant R1234yf, now standard in vehicle air conditioning across Europe, degrades almost completely into trifluoroacetic acid (TFA)…
Nairobi, Kenya – 1 November 2025 — The World Cold Chain Symposium (WCCS) convened global experts, industry leaders, and policymakers at the UNEP Headquarters in Nairobi, ahead of the 37th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol. Organised by the Global Food Cold Chain Council (GFCCC) in partnership with UNEP OzonAction and Carrier, this…
Training of Trainers Workshop From 23 to 27 June 2025, Makerere University hosted a comprehensive Training of Trainers workshop to establish a skilled pool of technicians for system maintenance and repairs. Participants were selected from diverse backgrounds including recent engineering graduates, university technical staff, Buvuma District officials, and electricians from Kampala. Training Modules Day One:…
Transforming Rural Healthcare with Sustainable Energy Solutions The Sustainable Off-Grid Solutions for Pharmacies and Hospitals in Africa (SophiA) Project has successfully commissioned an innovative solar-powered facility at Buvuma Health Centre IV, marking a significant milestone in improving healthcare access for off-grid communities across Africa. The Launch Event On 30 September 2025, the Vice Chancellor of…
Access to reliable healthcare remains a challenge in many rural parts of Africa, where limited electricity and clean water compromise medical services. The Horizon 2020 SophiA project has spent the past years tackling this issue head-on, providing solar-powered solutions designed specifically for remote healthcare facilities. Transforming rural healthcare with solar energy Across sub-Saharan Africa, roughly…
On 16 September 2025, prior to travelling to Gambia for the ESEF 2025 mission, the Director General of the International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR), Yosr Allouche, made a strategic stop in Dakar, Senegal. The visit aimed to engage with key Senegalese stakeholders who have shown strong interest in the outcomes and future collaboration opportunities of…
The SophiA project has entered an exciting new phase in Cameroon with the official inauguration of its sites, marking an important step in strengthening sustainable medical refrigeration in the country. Launch ceremonies have already taken place at the PVMEDPORT sites of Ekekam (9 September 2025) and Nomayos (11 September 2025), with the Edea site inauguration…
The SophiA project was presented at the 10th edition of the West African Sustainable Energy Forum (ESEF 2025), organised by the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE). The event took place on 18–19 September 2025 at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Center in Banjul, The Gambia, marking not only a…
