Network News
The latest from the global Clean Cooling community
Getting specification and commissioning right
18th Sep 2025
CCN is launching a new one-day course on cold-chain specification and commissioning, to be delivered at its Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cooling and Cold-Chain (ACES) in Kigali - dedicated to training sector professionals in cold-chain specification and commissioning.
ACES Marks Ozone Day 2025 at Kigali Campus: Celebrating 40 Years of Global Action
17th Sep 2025
On 16 September 2025, the African Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cooling and Cold-Chain (ACES) joined the global community in commemorating the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer and the 40th Anniversary of the Vienna Convention.
Strengthening Cold-Chain Capacity in Africa: CCN Successfully Hosts Pivotal Foundation Course
10th Sep 2025
The five-day training brought together 14 participants for an intensive learning experience on cold-chain systems and their applications in the food and pharmaceutical sectors.
Faults on Purpose - Accelerating Experience Today for Africa’s Cooling Engineers of Tomorrow
4th Sep 2025
At (ACES) in Rwanda, we are training engineers and technicians on a novel unit that deliberately fails. With 25 built-in designed faults, this teaching rig gives our students the confidence and competence needed to tackle a range of technical challenges that they will likely encounter once in practice beyond the Academy.
The Start-up Pitch Competition: OPEN NOW
2nd Sep 2025
As part of the Festival of Cooling, we invite young companies to participate in our startup pitch competition. We want you to step forward and showcase solutions that could make cooling and cold-chain smarter, cleaner, and more accessible in Rwanda with potential to scale up in the Global South.
Festival of Cooling Competition: OPEN NOW
29th Aug 2025
As part of the Festival of Cooling, the Clean Cooling Network invites you to take part in a photography competition that shines a light on how cooling manifests in our day-to-day life, whether that's through food, health, nature or technology.
COMPETITION ANNOUNCEMENT - Turn your creativity into impact at the Festival of Cooling
22nd Aug 2025
Two official pre-festival competitions will give visual storytellers and innovators a chance to put their perspectives and products in front of an audience that matters: the “Photography Competition” and the “Startup Pitch Competition”.
There’s something for everyone at the Festival of Cooling – Making the Invisible Visible
20th Aug 2025
From 6th – 10th October 2025, the Festival of Cooling in Kigali, Rwanda, will be the go-to event exploring one of the most powerful yet underrated forces that is silently shaping the future of cooling.
The countdown begins for the Festival of Cooling. Bringing innovation, awareness, and action to the cold chain
18th Aug 2025
The countdown is on for the Festival of Cooling 2025, a five-day celebration dedicated to showcasing innovation, raising awareness, and driving action for the adoption of cold-chains in the agri-food sector.
CCN India team to join Cool World conference
18th Aug 2025
Representatives from the CCN team for India will join the international “Cool World: Sustainable Cold-Chain for the Global South” conference in October to discuss the programme’s plans.
Innovation in Postgraduate Education
8th Aug 2025
The higher education sector is undergoing rapid changes as the need for access to learning opportunities has never been greater, new skill sets are required to support future challenges, and mechanisms for engaging students are evolving swiftly.
Launch of the First Clean Cooling Academy online course
4th Aug 2025
The new e-learning course, “Essentials in Cold-Chain Systems”, has been jointly developed by experts from CCN/ACES and the University of Birmingham, London South Bank, and Cranfield University.
Advancing Cold Transport Solutions: Installation and Testing of Solar-Powered PCM Freezer at ACTS
31st Jul 2025
Following a month of technology testing, the Lari farmers will be using PCM cold storage (charged in a solar-powered freezer) and insulated boxes to move temperature sensitive horticulture produce to market. They will be able to test the performance against their traditional vehicle with Carrier TRU as part of the Try Before You Buy (TBYB) programme.
ACES SPOKE programme delivers farmers 50% uplift in return
30th Jul 2025
In March 2025, the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS), in collaboration with the Clean Cooling Network, the Lari Horticultural Farmers’ Cooperative Society Limited (LHFCSL), and key stakeholders, launched Kenya’s and Africa’s first “Try Before You Buy” (TBYB) sustainable cooling and cold-chain unit in Kinale, Lari Sub-County, Kiambu County.
Our community cold-chain development programme is open for applications
29th Jul 2025
Smallholder farmer organisations operating within 200kms of Nairobi, Kenya are invited to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to participate in our next community cold-chain engagement programme. As an example of the programme’s success, the Lari cooperative has been able to earn – on average – over 50% higher return for their produce than previously due to their participation in the programme.
Breaking Biases and Barriers: Diverse professionals unite at the ACES for ‘GESI Sensitisation and Integration Workshop’
25th Jul 2025
A dynamic and diverse group of 16 professionals spanning a range of backgrounds, ages and geographic origins have convened at the ACES campus for a week-long intensive workshop on Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) - within a cooling and cold-chain context.
Lighting the Torch on Brazing
26th Jun 2025
In the race toward sustainable cooling and climate resilience, one seemingly small skill plays an outsized role: brazing. This week marked an important milestone for our refrigeration students, as we hosted our very first one-day Brazing Techniques for Refrigeration Systems course at the ACES, Clean Cooling Academy in Kigali.
CCN Annual Review: June 2025
20th Jun 2025
This has been a pivotal year for the Sustainable Cooling and Cold-chain Solutions Programme. Activities have transitioned from the design and development of core facilities, tools, training, and content to ramped-up implementation through delivery of training courses, demonstration, testing, and roll-out of activities through the Clean Cooling Network (CCN), serving as the umbrella brand.
Training for Tomorrow: The Role of R448A Rigs at ACES
16th Jun 2025
As global temperatures rise, so does the demand for sustainable cooling. At the Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cooling and Cold-chain (ACES), Rubirizi campus in Kigali, R448A training rigs are shaping the next generation of refrigeration professionals.
Strengthening cold-chain systems in Africa can reduce food loss locally while supporting more robust and sustainable supply chains worldwide.
11th Jun 2025
University of Birmingham and partners extend sustainable cooling programme in Africa A major programme, led by the University of Birmingham and UNEP United for Efficiency, is extending its work in Africa over the next 12 months to speed the transition to clean cold - reducing food loss and improve vaccine and health supply chains.
Cool Innovations, Hot Ideas, Real-World Impact... The Festival of Cooling is Coming to Kigali!
2nd Jun 2025
Between 6th to 10th October 2025, at the Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cooling and Cold Chain (ACES), this one-of-a-kind festival will turn a quiet revolution into a loud celebration. Five thrilling days in Kigali!
The ACES team visit the Ntarama Genocide Memorial
22nd Apr 2025
On April 9th, 2025, the team from the Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cooling and Cold-chain (ACES) visited the Ntarama Genocide Memorial to honour the memory of the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
CCN and ACES announce the Festival of Cooling for October 2025
13th Mar 2025
The Clean Cooling Network and the Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cooling and Cold-chain (ACES) are hosting a week-long, public engagement “Festival of Cooling” (6th to 10th October 2025) at the ACES Campus in Kigali, Rwanda.
Signing moves Haryana Centre of Excellence a step closer to opening
21st Feb 2025
The Haryana-UK Centre of Excellence on Sustainable Crop Post-Harvest Management & Cold-Chain will help farmers get more of their crops to market sustainably.
Simulation-Based Optimization for Large-Scale Perishable Agri-Food Cold Chain
24th Jan 2025
The global food supply chain faces significant challenges in maintaining quality and safety of perishable agri-food products. This study introduces a novel approach to demonstrate the efficiency of using the perishable agri-food cold supply chain.
ACES welcomes generous support for its new Refrigeration Training Centre
3rd Dec 2024
The Africa Centre of Excellence (ACES) is thrilled to announce the support of two UK companies, DiversiTech Global and BusinessEdge Ltd, for the establishment of its state-of-the-art Refrigeration Training Centre.
Clean Cooling Network launches work with Kenyan farmers to build their own Community Cooling Hub
26th Nov 2024
More than 130 Kenyan farmers attended a Clean Cooling Network open day - signing up for free training in Cold-chain and Postharvest Management, and testing the latest cold-chain technology.
Strengthening the climate resilience of health systems in Africa
1st Nov 2024
There is a pressing need to implement climate change adaptation measures within African health systems and to safeguard health system resilience.
UK and Rwandan Minister tour joint Africa centre for resilient cold-chains
6th Sep 2024
The new UK Minister for Africa, Lord Collins, visited the Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cooling and Cold-chain (ACES) in Kigali, Rwanda during the Africa Food Systems Forum Annual Summit.
Global health expertise is deployed to support the control of Mpox disease in Africa
2nd Sep 2024
Experts in infectious diseases, immune diagnostics and vaccines who have been working in Rwanda for years and will now engage on the needs of disease outbreak.
International experts and state government of Haryana develop Centre of Excellence
14th Aug 2024
A new Centre of Excellence on Sustainable Crop Post-Harvest Management will create blueprint for Indian horticulture farmers to get more produce to market.
ACES Annual Review: March 2024
25th Jul 2024
In less than four years, we have progressed rapidly from conceptualisation to the realisation of a physical campus in Kigali, the Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cooling and Cold-chain (ACES).
Cooling is critical infrastructure for tackling climate change impact
18th Jul 2024
Governments and policymakers must recognise cooling as critical national infrastructure (CNI) if humanity is to build resilience to the impact of climate change, according to a new report.
The Hot Reality: Living in a +50°C World
16th Jul 2024
The Hot Reality: Living in a +50°C World (published 18th July) calls for a radical shift in policy to create more ambitious strategies for delivering cooling and effectively managing energy use and achieving reductions in cooling demand.
New blood-free tetanus test could help identify global immunity gaps
16th Jul 2024
A new fast test may help identify children missing immunity to tetanus and other essential vaccines.
Measles Vaccine Coverage and Disease Outbreaks
8th May 2024
We aimed to evaluate changes to measles-containing vaccine (MCV) provision and subsequent measles disease cases in low- and lower-middle income countries (LICs, LMICs) in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Birmingham global cooling summit launches new partnership
25th Mar 2024
We're taking the next steps toward delivering sustainable, resilient cold-chains to distribute food and medicines effectively in Africa, India and beyond.
Cooling and health experts join forces for African sustainable vaccine network
25th Mar 2024
Major African symposium brings together industry, academia, medical professionals and health agencies to drive progress in sustainable vaccine logistics.
UK Government commits to address the urgent lack of cold-chain in Africa
25th Mar 2024
Developing countries will receive £4 million to reduce harmful emissions from outdated air conditioning units, cooling refrigeration and cold supply chains.
Rwanda and UK Governments join IFC to advance Africa cold chain progress
25th Mar 2024
The Rwanda and UK governments joined forces at COP27 to help speed the delivery of innovative cooling technologies in Africa.
Africa’s Cold Rush and the Promise of Refrigeration - The New Yorker
25th Mar 2024
For the developing world, refrigeration is growth. In Rwanda, it could spark an economic transformation.
Cooling is Critical Infrastructure
25th Mar 2024
The European Commission defines ‘Critical Infrastructure’ as an asset or system which is essential for the maintenance of vital societal functions.
COP27 - No Time to Waste
25th Mar 2024
BBC Future’s William Park talks to experts about the research & innovation that’s helping us tackle food waste, in a webinar from the Horticulture Quality and Food Loss Network.
Cold Chain Report 23: Energy Tech Will Have Greatest Influence On UK Cold Chain’s Next 10 Years
25th Mar 2024
Cold chain professionals say energy management technologies will have more influence over temperature-controlled logistics in the coming decade than automation, blockchain or changes to demand for cold chain products.
COP President Alok Sharma Visits A Unique Centre In Africa Dedicated To Supporting Sustainable Cooling
25th Mar 2024
COP President, the Rt. Hon. Alok Sharma MP, visited the Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cooling and Cold-chain (ACES) during his attendance at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
ACES advances Africa cold chain progress through international partnership
25th Mar 2024
The African Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cooling and Cold-chain (ACES) is working with a major global cold-chain provider.
“Help us to understand priority gaps where ACES can be of service”
25th Mar 2024
Brian Holuj, Strategic Delivery Lead for the Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cooling and Cold-Chain (ACES), overviews the ACES Engagement Day.
Clean cold centre of excellence launches in India
25th Mar 2024
The Telangana Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cooling and Cold Chain will promote food and health security, empower farmers and boost exports.
General manager appointed for African Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cooling and Cold chain (ACES)
25th Mar 2024
Morris Kayitare has been appointed general manager for the African Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cooling and Cold chain (ACES).
Sustainable cooling experts gather in Washington for global food loss summit
25th Mar 2024
Sustainable cooling experts are gathering in Washington to create a blueprint for rolling out affordable solutions to help African food producers reduce waste and their carbon footprint.
