Bangladesh’s agricultural supply chain faces major challenges due to post-harvest losses and the high cost of traditional cold storage systems. This paper compares a solar-hybrid cold storage hub with a conventional system powered by grid electricity and a diesel generator. The comparison focuses on capital expenses and yearly operational costs, focusing on fuel and electricity as the main distinguishable factor between the two systems. This will help us to understand the financial realities of either approach when it comes to the agricultural supply chain. To provide another fair benchmark, the Levelized Cost of Cooling (LCOC) is calculated, showing the cost per kilowatt-hour of cooling for each system. The study also estimates how much agricultural produce could be preserved each year by adding such a cold storage solution, and how this preservation translates into higher farmer revenues at harvest-time market prices. The results suggest that solar-hybrid cold storage offers a more sustainable and economically viable option when considering the whole picture, from adding it to the supply chain to operating it over its lifetime. Our findings also suggest that such a system could be used as a hub for farming communities to store their produce for any amount of time in optimal conditions, strengthening food security and resilience in Bangladesh’s agricultural supply chain.
Published in: 8th IEOM Bangladesh International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Operations Management, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Publisher: IEOM Society International
Date of Conference: December 20
-21
, 2025
ISBN: 979-8-3507-4441-5
ISSN/E-ISSN: 2169-8767