For tropical countries with a high level of solar radiation throughout the year and with cooling requirements that are fairly balanced around the year, the system of solar-thermal cooling must be seen as an excellent technological solution. The Fraunhofer Institut für Umwelt-, Sicherheits- und Energietechnik UMSICHT (Fraunhofer Institut for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology) in Oberhausen developed a self-sufficient refridgerator operating exclusively on solar-heated warm water.

This device requires, in contrast to other solar thermal systems, some high-quality components like for example highly efficient solar collectors.

Gecotec e.V. promoted the development of this system towards production readiness in a so-called emerging developing country to enable local commercial production of solar cooling devices for national and foreign markets. Besides realization of short term solutions in other projects, we view such adapted development projects with long term perspectives to be valuable and pointing the way to sustained improvement of living conditions in not well-off countries.