Netherlands launches solar-powered storage system for food, pharmaceuticals

The Kingdom of the Netherlands has unveiled a solar-powered storage system for food, pharmaceuticals, and other perishable items called the ‘Polar Store’ in Lagos State.

The Polar Store is part of a Dutch government-funded Impact Cluster, developed in collaboration with leading Dutch and Nigerian companies.

Speaking at the launch, Deputy Consul General of the Netherlands Consulate in Lagos, Peter Keulers, said the Polar Store system could transform how perishable foods and pharmaceuticals are stored in Nigeria.

He said this will reduce waste, improve food security, and increase productivity and revenue amid post-harvest losses recorded in recent years.

Keulers, who lamented that about 80 million Nigerians do not have access to electricity, recommended that Nigeria could explore solar-powered solutions given the availability of sunlight.

He said solar has become necessary for the government to consider for providing clean energy to its growing population, and businesses, and to create jobs as the grid electricity supply has proven unreliable over many decades.

General manager of Lagos State Electricity Board, Kamaldeen Balogun, said the Polar Store represents a convergence of innovation, engineering excellence, and sustainable development.

“The Polar Store transcends the realm of mere technological advancement; it represents a critical solution that will revolutionize food preservation practices, mitigate post-harvest losses, and significantly enhance energy efficiency within the Nigerian landscape,” Balogun said.

He pledged the Lagos State Government’s commitment to innovations like the Polar Store that fosters “renewable energy solutions that harmonize with the overarching vision of a cleaner, more sustainable future.”

Lagos State Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Biodun Ogunleye, said leveraging solar power “enhances supply chain efficiency, and ensures that critical pharmaceutical products remain viable in an environment where stable electricity supply remains a work in progress.”

Ogunleye, represented by Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Abiola Kosegbe, commended the Dutch government for being a forward-thinking partner in unlocking the huge economic potential that clean energy can provide in Lagos State.

“This project is a testament to what is possible when governments, businesses, and technology providers come together to create impact-driven solutions,” Ogunleye said.