Question: Could we use your technology in our country (England) and if so, how?

Becky Selwyn answered on 13 Mar 2012:

Yes we could. It needs a heat source to power the refrigeration cycle, and that heat source can either come from the sun or from waste heat produced by industry.

The sun is not as strong in the UK as it is in countries closer to the equator. However, as the sun is less strong, we don’t need as much air conditioning, and during the summer when we need the air conditioning, the sun is strongest anyway so solar cooling is still possible. For refrigeration that is needed all year round, solar refrigeration is maybe not the best idea for the UK. But we could use waste heat from industry (for example waste heat from power plants) to drive the refrigeration cycle instead.

Currently solar refrigeration systems are being tested around the world. There is one system being used to air condition an office building in Italy which is giving some good results. The technology is still being improved and as the performance improves, it will be easier to use it in the UK.