K-CEP – Building Momentum for Efficient, Climate-Friendly Cooling in Developing Countries

By Nancy Nguyen

The Kigali Cooling Efficiency Program (K-CEP), one of PFAN’s strategic partners, has released its Year Three Report, which highlights K-CEP’s recent achievements in improving global access to efficient, climate-friendly cooling.

K-CEP is a philanthropic collaborative that works in tandem with the Kigali Amendment of the Montreal Protocol by helping developing countries transition to energy-efficient, climate-friendly, and affordable cooling solutions. Under the Kigali Amendment, 197 countries committed to cut the production and consumption of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) — potent greenhouse gases used in refrigeration and air conditioning — by more than 80 percent over the next 30 years. This effort has the potential to avoid up to 0.4° C of global warming by the end of the century, and up to 0.5° C if the phasedown is accelerated. K-CEP focuses on the energy efficiency of cooling in order to double the climate benefits and significantly increase the development benefits of the Kigali Amendment to phase down HFCs.

In 2019, K-CEP expanded its activities to 52 countries, helping governments in China, Brazil, Lebanon, the Philippines, and South Africa to improve the stringency of efficiency standards and labels; providing support on National Cooling Plans (NCPs) in China, Trinidad and Tobago, Cuba and Panama. Major global companies such as Thai Union, one of the world’s largest seafood companies, and Mahindra & Mahindra, India’s largest vehicle producer, have also stepped up their work on climate-friendly cooling with K-CEP’s support. K-CEP’s private equity grantees have built a robust pipeline of investments in both Latin America and Asia. Cooling as a Service (CaaS) continues to thrive as a new business model.

K-CEP also launched some exciting new initiatives in 2019, including the US$12 million NDC Support Facility for Efficient, Climate-Friendly Cooling (NDC Support Facility); its work with Direct Relief to deploy sustainable cooling equipment in pilot projects across a range of pre- and post-disaster situations; accelerating CaaS across the globe; and supporting Ashden’s Cool Cities Award.

In 2019, PFAN partnered with K-CEP to launch a Call for Proposals seeking climate-friendly, energy-efficient cooling technologies. PFAN and K-CEP are seeking projects that are innovative, commercially viable, and seeking investment in the range of US$1 million to US$50 million. These projects offer solutions such as building design, shading, cool roofs, cold storage, cold chain technologies. Depending on the needs and maturity level, PFAN will provide services such as business coaching, investment forum pitch competitions, and “tipping point” technical assistance.

One of our Managing Partners, Mark Lister, was recently appointed as PFAN Global Clean Cooling Expert. Mark is coordinating and overseeing activities between PFAN and K-CEP, with the aim to mobilize more investments into cooling-related projects.

For more information on the K-CEP Third Year Report, please read here.