Defy, Africa’s leading domestic appliance manufacturer, today launched its latest innovation – the Solar Hybrid fridge and freezer products – at a virtual event. The product range includes a fridge and a chest freezer, both of which utilise solar power to reduce electricity consumption from the grid.
The Defy Solar Hybrid fridge and chest freezer are now available in stores nationwide. Designed with Africa in mind, the product range is a game changer by lowering energy costs by up to 44%, and by keeping food frozen for up to 49 hours with endure-chill technology when there is no power. Revolutionary technology reduces total cost of ownership by removing the requirement for separate battery and inverter purchases, to have a solar appliance at home with built-in smart electronics installed in these new appliances. These features make Solar Hybrid products a reliable partner for everyday life in our homes to reduce rising electricity costs while keeping food fresh during loadshedding.
Defy has a rich history in Africa, explains Evren Albas, CEO of Defy Appliances. “It is in celebration of this long history that we reaffirm our commitment to the African continent, by launching this first-of-its-kind range of Solar Hybrid appliances designed to improve the daily lives of Zambians.”
There are two major challenges that Africans face almost daily says Albas: access to a reliable – and affordable – source of power; and unnecessary food spoilage due to lack of proper storage, and again, lack of a reliable and continuous power supply. “We decided to do something about it and developed our Designed for Africa Solar Hybrid range that makes use of Africa’s most abundant resource – sunshine,” explains Albas.
Zambia has one of the highest local resources to produce solar energy in the world. Most areas in the country have an average of more than 2,800 to 3,000 hours of sunshine per year. The annual 24-hour global solar radiation average is about 5500 W/m2 for Zambia, compared to about 150 W/m2 for parts of the USA, and roughly 100 W/m2 for Europe and the United Kingdom.
Speaking at the launch event, Vere Shaba, Founder and CEO of Greendesign and passionate ambassador for energy-efficient homes says that engineering has the potential to solve some of our greatest challenges as a continent, not only on a large scale, but on a smaller scale too – in our everyday decisions. “Appliances like these show that climate and social innovation is possible in our homes. Not only possible, but important if we are going to address the challenges of energy equity, energy security, energy sustainability and climate change as Africans,” comments Shaba.
“The rising cost of electricity coupled with disruptions in power supply such as loadshedding and lengthy unplanned power outages are affecting everyone in Africa,” notes Albas. “It is these challenges that inspired us to democratize the cost of solar products to make this innovation available to more communities.”
Despite being a solar-powered fridge and freezer, the Solar Hybrid range actually operates a little differently from other solar appliances on the market – they run off a dual power source and also plug into the electricity grid. The Solar Hybrid products run directly off the solar panels during the day when the sun is out and revert to the electrical grid at night when it is dark.
“Traditionally, solar refrigerators are high cost items and require expensive batteries or inverters,” explains Albas. “However, the Solar Hybrid range provides a built-in intelligent electronics solution aimed at providing this innovative technology to a wider market at an affordable price to help save on electricity costs. This while at the same time making it easier for more people to live a greener life by increasing sustainable solar power usage.”
Defy marks the launch of their Solar Hybrid range as a social innovation, just one step in the long journey towards a more sustainable Africa where technology is more readily available to all consumers.
“As a technology-driven brand, we prioritise investment in solutions that have a direct impact on the lives of our consumers. Our brand purpose, which is ‘pioneering our future together’, is our compass to bring more innovations to positively transform social and economic challenges in the markets that we operate in Zambia and the rest of Africa,” concludes Albas.
The Defy Solar Hybrid product range will be available in stores through our distributor at the end of February and will further expand to more stores across the country as the product penetrates the market. The installation process is managed by Defy’s trusted partner who specialises in solar installations and have a countrywide footprint.
